AZED CROSSWORD 340

BOOKSIE

1.  G. Johnstone: Sanctions busting stink that is buried in Cabinet-editions (ok’s in BO i.e.).

2.  R. S. Caffyn: Reading – for the wrong reasons? – capital of Berks. Looks lacking, for a capital, that is (B(erks) (L)ooks i.e.).

3.  P. W. W. Leach: Gets ticket that is taken to Charing Cross Road? (books i.e.; ref. area known for bookshops).

VHC

R. Brain: It’s OK to be reformed TT and so like Johnson (comp. anag.; ref. Dr Samuel J. and William E. J. (see pussyfoot in C.)).

C. A. Clarke: What one might call Lord Alfred Douglas that’s about right? (OK in Bosie, & lit.).

J. H. Dingwall: Acceptable to be captivated by Queensberry heir? Wilde was (OK in Bosie; ref. Lord Alfred Douglas).

J. Gill: Describing Silas Wegg, initially Boffin – one ordering knowledge – seeks instruction on English (initial letters + E; ref. ‘Our Mutual Friend’).

N. C. Goddard: Oscar’s titled friend certainly admitted Wilde was this (OK in Bosie; ref. Lord Alfred Douglas).

S. Holgate: Steele, for example, was out quickly, trapped by a googly turning the other way (KO (rev.) in bosie; ref. Richard S., founder of ‘The Spectator’ and David S., cricketer; out vb.).

R. J. Hooper: Half that duo of Browning’s – that’s a description of Gigadibs (Book’s, i.e.; ref. ‘The Ring and the Book’ and ‘Bishop Blougram’s Apology’).

E. M. Hornby: Personal hygiene problem solved, is ’e possibly savouring of literary snobbism? (BO OK + anag.).

A. Lawrie: Better to devour ‘The Saint’ – than be so pretentious? (S. in bookie).

D. F. Manley: Brooke is bandied about – what could be ——r? (anag. + r, & lit.; ref. Rupert B.).

C. G. Millin: Not really literary? You’ll find work on Shakespeare’s endless graft (book + sie(n)).

C. J. Morse: Certainly to be included in the designation of Lord Alfred Douglas (OK in Bosie, & lit.).

F. R. Palmer: What’s predicated in ‘The guy is versed in perfect English’? (bo + is (rev.) in OK E, & lit.; versed = reversed).

R. J. Palmer: Not quite the ultimate in prose, held by one who deals with better as ‘having literary pretensions’ (s in bookie).

C. J. B. Powell: Putting letters first, belletristic or of kindred spirit in essence (initial letters & lit.).

Mrs E. J. Shields: Somewhat literary fits all right in Oscar’s friend (OK in Bosie; ref. Lord Alfred Douglas).

C. C. D. Shute: Reading – does it really hold attractions for such a man? With Oscar’s friend around, yes (OK in Bosie; ref. Lord Alfred Douglas and R. town).

W. K. M. Slimmings: Like Bunthorne? Hollow, he is knock-out with love sick (anag. of B(unthorn)e is KO 0; ref. Patience, Act I).

Mrs M. P. Webber: Objection raised over passes that is affecting scholarship (ob (rev.) + OKs i.e.).

J. F. N. Wedge: Post nothing in box, we hear, that is to do with letters (0 in boks + i.e.; ‘box’).

D. C. Williamson: Sure to have a page (at least) of Wilde lying around (OK in Bosie, & lit.; ref. Lord Alfred Douglas).

HC

C. Allen Baker, E. A. Beaulah, P. R. Best, A. Bottoms, Rev C. M. Broun, A. J. Bulman, E. J. Burge, E. W. Burton, E. Chalkley, M. Coates, M. A. Cooper, G. Cuthbert, R. Dean, A. L. Dennis, P. Drummond, J. D. Foster, A. L. Freeman, D. A. Ginger, D. Godden, S. Goldie, A. A. J. Griffiths, Dr J. F. Grimshaw, R. B. Harling, E. M. Holroyd, Miss E. H. C. Jenkins, A. D. B. Jones, R. E. Kimmons, F. P. N. Lake, J. Lawrence, Mrs M. Lazarides, J. H. C. Leach, C. Loving, C. J. Lowe, D. J. Mackay, W. F. Main, H. S. Mason, L. May, D. P. M. Michael, R. S. Morse, R. A. Mostyn, D. S. Nagle, F. E. Newlove, Mrs E. M. Phair, D. R. Robinson, H. R. Sanders, T. E. Sanders, W. J. M. Scotland, A. D. Scott, P. Sephton, T. A. J. Spencer, Brig R. F. E. Stoney, J. C. P. Taylor, R. C. Teuton, P. C. Thornton, D. H. Tompsett, V. C. D. Vowles, G. R. Webb, R. A. Wells, N. C. Wormleighton, Dr E. Young.
 

COMMENTS
460 entries, no mistakes. Quite a number of you failed to understand the subsidiary indication of EPHA. I had in mind CEPHAS, Jesus’s nickname for Saint Peter in the New Testament (see John 1.42,1 Corinthians 1.12; 3.22; 9.5; 15.5, etc.). I believe it is the Hebrew word for rock. When you have clued words like EPHA as often as I’m sure I have, it becomes increasingly hard to think of something new, apt and interesting. So no apologies. My clue was fair enough, if perhaps a little obscure. I was also picked up for including proper names which do not appear in Chambers (e.g. MYSORE, ENNA). Well, as I’ve said before, I only recommend C, I do not prescribe it. I don’t feel bound to draw attention to the fact every time I use a proper noun such as a geographical name or a fictional character (which is rare enough when all’s said and done). You wouldn’t expect such spoon-feeding in easier daily crosswords, I’m sure. Basically I just aim to be as fair as I can and point you in the direction of extra-difficult words only when I consider that otherwise the quest might prove too long or fruitless. I certainly feel entitled to cast my net pretty wide in search of words to use, provided that I let you know when I am fishing in specially exotic waters (in which category I don’t include atlases).
 
A puzzling word BOOKSIE, in more senses than the obvious. The OED doesn’t give it at all, though it does give BOOKSY (as a fairly recent coinage), which isn’t in C. Have I stumbled unerringly on yet another misprint in Chambers? My researches are so far incomplete and I shall report further next month, but it does look a little suspicious. Secondly the definition for BOOKSIE in C. and in the OED for BOOKSY suggests a degree of bogusness about the literary pretensions of one to whom the epithet is applied, but does not indicate that this is how it is invariably used. Many of you clearly felt there was some ambiguity and took advantage of it, opting for a definition very close to ‘bookish’. I couldn’t really argue with this though I feel instinctively that the word would not be used with this meaning.
 
Perhaps predictably Bosie figured pretty prominently in the entries this month. Other devices required more complex contortions of the available material, and I can see that it was a bit of a brute to deal with (and yet another seven-letter word!). I hope I am right in predicting that the next three competitions (including Christmas) will offer greater scope for inventiveness than you may feel you’ve had recently.
 
Renewed plea: do post early. Last-minute entries are reaching me later and later because of postal delays (they have two journeys to make, remember), and soon I may have to consider bringing forward the closing date for entries. You have been warned.