Don’t Tell by Poat

Puzzle explanation

The seven altered clues had their latter parts switched at random, as in the “cut-up” technique used by William S. Burroughs. The initial letters of their answers formed (Joan) VOLLMER, the name of Burroughs’ ex-wife, whom he shot dead in a drunken attempt to recreate the William Tell legend. Switching the last four letters of columns 1 and 11, then the last five letters of rows 3 and 10 revealed The Black Rider, a “musical fable” written by Burroughs and Tom Waits, based on the German folk tale Der Freischütz. In it, Wilhelm is given magic bullets by the Devil, one of which kills his bride on the day of their wedding, echoing the events from Burroughs’ life.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Clue ending (destination) Answer Explanation
Across
1   HOA H + (P)OA(t)
5   CALCRETE (ELECTRIC + A(venue) − I) *
11   UNDREAMT UN + ARMED * + (conflic)T
12   HEWED HE WED
13   NIVÔSE N + IV + O’ + ES(t) <
14   LEG-MAN LEG + MAN
15   THEY THE LADY − LAD
16   PERIDERM (MR ED + I’ + REP) <
17   ALREADY A + L + READY
21   WETSUIT W(r)E(a)T(h)’S (q)U(a)I(n)T
23 … during sea voyage (14dn) LA TÈNE LATENESS − SS
25 … site of ancient culture (23ac) EMPAIRE A in EMPIRE
27   YES-BUT ABSOLUTELY * − (ALL + O) *
29   YARDANG DANG after YAR
31   ASTERIA TER in ASIA
34 … unloaded on the wings (26dn) OPUSCULA (PAUL + (B)OCUS(e)) *
35   CRED CRIED − I
36   ENARCH (m)EN + (m)ARCH
37   SCRIED SUCKERS − UCKERS + CRIED
38   NITRO MINI METRO − (MI,ME)
39   DUCHENNE CH in DUENN(a) + E
40   TAPEWORM (TAMPER + W + O) *
41   GAR RAG <
Down
1   HUNTAWAYS SHUNT AWAY with letters cycled
2   ADVERTISE (T + ADVERTISE) * = (A TEST DRIVE)
3   TROYES SORT < around YE
4 … in total control (25ac) VESPA APSE < after (ser)V(ice)
6   AMBRY AMY around BR
7   CHEDDAR HEDDA in CR
8 … middle of service (4dn) REGENT RE + GENT(s)
9   TEAMING TEA + MING
10   EDNA (Unit)ED NA(tions)
14 … on the throne (8dn) LILLIAS (ILL in SAIL) <
18   DIPTYCH DIP + homophone of TICK
19   DEBARRING BA(yreuth) in DER RING
20   BERG-ADDER BADDER around (ER + G(ives))
22   TAY TAY after S(andwiches) = STAY
24   BEGONIA BEGON(e) + AI <
26 … endlessly whipped up (34ac) MUDSCOW MOSCOW with U(nloade)D for O
28   BEURRE cryptic definition; ref. French bread and butter
30   DECREE (wi)DE CREE(k)
31   AUGUR AU + GUR
32   TACHY- YACHT *
33   KENT 2 meanings; ref. Clark Kent
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