Four pairs of unclued lights (17/5, 22/27, 29/31 and 8/26) form anagrams of the titles (one hyphened, three of three words) of novels by an author whose name is clued without definition. Across 1 Apportioning silver crooked nursemaid pinched (11)7 Being in French city without local friend (3)11 Sickness in Vermont and Maine infected America
Eight unclued lights are of a kind with the 3 of the 30. Elsewhere, ignore two accents. Across 1 Nick is sound (5) 10 Category containing almost pure red rose (rambling) (10) 11 Universal spirit and life-force in Chinese city (6) 14 Lass did it, backed not by Pabulum (5) 15 Bill brightened retired
‘10/17’ give the first three words of a statement (in ODQ) made by a famous 48/21. His works include 1A/23D (four words in total) and The 44. His forename is the remaining unclued light; the puzzle’s title suggests his surname. The fourth word (hyphened) of the statement will appear diagonally in the grid and must
Across unclued lights (one of two words) combine with down ones to suggest the surnames of four famous English painters; the puzzle’s title suggests the name of a fifth. The fifth letters of these names form STARS. Elsewhere, ignore three accents. Across 11 Leading soldier and cardinal are to stick together (6) 13 Uncouth
19 October marks a milestone (hinted at by 19/26/20) for a person whose real forenames are given by 1A (three words). The other unclued lights (including two of two words, one being a toponym) suggest the titles of four of his works while the puzzle’s title suggests the title of a fifth. His real surname
1A (four words) and 44 (four words) are quotations from the first verse of a poem (in ODQ). Five remaining unclued lights are examples of 1A, while 44 might be a comment on the other four. The poet’s initials will appear upwards in the completed grid and must be shaded. Across 9 Food for
‘40/37/1A’, as he has been called, was born in 28 (two words) and died in 30/36. He was a reluctant ‘guest’ at 16’s twenty-seventh birthday party. 22 and 40 combine to form an anagram of the name of one of his works, while the puzzle’s title suggests the name of another. His surname appears as
1A (hyphened) suggests a word which, with changes to its 7D 33, becomes the four other words (including a name) suggested by the remaining unclued lights (including a pair). The word will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded. Across 7 Outburst of song from tailor (3) 11 Lid of fryer accepted
It is the centenary of a daring feat. Unclued lights (two of two words) include two surnames, two locations (two pairs) and the aptly positioned name of a key item (a pair). Ignore an apostrophe. Across 1 Matronage almost outraged Lily (8) 6 Appear briefly and go quietly (4) 12 Toolmaker out of Alaska
Clockwise round the grid from 6 run the names (9,5,7,6,8,7,8) of the leading members of a group. The unchecked and corner letters could make SILVER INVENTORS RUN AROUND and 18 is an anagram of the group’s name (two words). An English version of the name (two words) the group gave to a seminal work will
The second and fourth letters of six unclued lights (defined by surplus single words in six clues) form a set whose name is cryptically suggested by the remaining pair. Across 1 Acknowledged 500 vatu due (6) 5 Raptors seek rats chandler set free (8) 10 Seabird collecting books about one UK fleet? No way!
We recently lost a fine 13, whose legacy includes 10 (two words) and 9 (two words), and four other unclued lights (including one of two words and a pair). A further two unclued lights combine with a clued one to give an anagram of the 13’s name (two words); the clued light must be shaded.
The first three or four letters of eight unclued lights (including one proper name) form a set said to be safe for 1A. Elsewhere, ignore an accent. Across 10 Sauce that will do OK for Frankfurters (4) 12 Sea-fishers lent warmer pants (10) 14 Upset goddess upset menial (3) 15 Departed by rail, oddball with
‘12/15’ (six words in total) is a quotation (in ODQ) suggested by the remaining unclued lights (two hyphened), whose fifth and sixth letters might give A NUN AMBROSIA. The surname of the quotation’s author will appear diagonally in the completed grid and must be shaded. Across 1 Scots bike across district in region round
The theme is two historic people who were contemporaries. Unclued lights give their forenames, places of birth and death and occupations. A geographical feature (5) linking the two will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded. Elsewhere, ignore an apostrophe. The solutions at 22 and 27 share the same two unchecked letters.
Eight headwords in Chambers consist of the same word. Unclued lights (including two trios and one doing double duty) give definitions of these headwords. The word will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded. Across 5 End with cloudy sort of wine (7, hyphened) 10 Strappers said to break down (4) 12
On 15 September somewhere bordered by 31 and 5, and whose capital is 40/10 (ignore an accent), celebrates its 43 from 35. Its main exports are 36 and 19D and, unusually, it has no 1 (two words). Its IVR (2) appears downwards in the completed grid and must be shaded. Elsewhere, ignore one accent.
Fans of classic 12 will know that where ‘Q’ = ‘the number of’: Q26 x Q1D x (Q34 + [Q36D/5A x Q15D]) x Q14/20 = Q the puzzle. 14/20 is four words in total. Across 1 Red vestment eastern compère retains (6) 10 Seeds of casaba once processed (10, two words) 11 Ruth
Five unclued lights form a quotation from a work concerning the 18 of 19, 15A and 23. The 18’s name will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded. Across 4 Placidity of English queen nearing Ross and Cromarty town (9) 9 Dumb mimickings parish rioters bandied (10) 11 Old statesman from Burundi
Unclued lights are anagrams of eight words which are of a kind. Across 1 Result of hooker’s foul work? (13, two words, one hyphened) 9 Flower from 19th State in yellow and light brown (except for edges) (7) 11 Penniless cleric one passes (7) 16 Lord, say, occupies lounge (5) 17 Poet’s pigsty fellow
