Unclued lights consist of a quotation (in ODQ), its speaker and source, and a synonym (one hyphened) of each of its three words. Its author appears in the grid and must be shaded.
Across
1 Excel as old Greek character among women (11)
11 Cable runs past part of bow (6)
13 Look in after settling vagrant (7)
15 Firework is dead wicked (5)
16 No hesitation in game giving derisive gesture (5)
17 Homer teacher’s badge of honour (6)
18 Holding first note, see about singing technique (5)
21 Cope, plain, fitted with skirt-like sections (5)
22 Minor storylines credited to important people bring in pounds (7, hyphened)
27 As witch’s child, rustic’s good for the ultimate in sorcery (7, hyphened)
29 Sheepish address to climber? (5)
30 Lent cases by engineers (6)
34 Such a band needs, say, a bit of jazz backing (6)
36 Scots complain about year making no friend (5)
37 Assembly phobics won’t leave home for? (5)
38 Very defective green pigment of the coloured part of the eye (7)
39 Elegant physician’s composition not first class (6)
40 Uncle’s Vermeer oddly missing (3)
41 Checkers soundly fasten metal lugs (11)
Down
1 After business, show card to church guide (10, hyphened)
2 Vicious riposte about grand self-inflating episodes (8, hyphened)
3 Doormats replaced at English sports venue (9)
4 Craftsman shows strength without depth, taking caulker’s tool (12, hyphened)
5 Excuse to avoid court from slave full of sauce (7)
6 Books on this, before assistants cancel one (8, hyphened)
7 One complacently contemplated hail in Holland (5)
8 Work stiff clay (4)
10 After-life state is nothing to poet (5)
14 In storm, mooch about, drained of all colour (12)
19 Wicked leftovers? (10, hyphened)
23 Short ropes bring sap in Indian tree up (8)
25 Repay churchman in time (6)
26 Hospital item, small one filling a tin (7)
28 A permanent impression in English memory (6)
31 Consume long shoot in midweek (5)
33 Ladies extremely sensible to relax (5)
A first prize of £30 for the first correct solution opened on 14 November. There are two runners-up prizes of £20. (UK solvers can choose to receive the latest edition of the Chambers dictionary instead of cash — ring the word ‘dictionary’.) Entries to: Crossword 2284, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP. Please allow six weeks for prize delivery.
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