Listener Crossword 4365: Solution Notes
General Intelligence by Calmac
Puzzle explanation
The incorrect letters in clues spelt “central letters in clues”. The middle one or two letters of each clue gave “Every schoolboy knows who imprisoned Montezuma, and who strangled Atahualpa”, from Macaulay’s essay on Lord Clive. In the grid, MONTEZUMA in a 3×3 square is surrounded by HERNAN CORTÉS and ATAHUALPA similarly by FRANCISCO PIZARRO.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Misprint | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | REASSESS | ASSES in RES | |
| 6 | (B)ar; C | FRANCE | F + RANCE |
| 11 | OTHELLO | HOTEL * + L(id)O | |
| 12 | h(A)ir; E | TAIL | T + AIL |
| 13 | SERRA | ARRES(t) < | |
| 14 | fo(O)d; N | MORRHUAS | (HARMS OUR) * |
| 16 | SETA | EAST * | |
| 17 | (N)ot; T | CEORL | CE + OR + (cathedra)L |
| 18 | p(L)ay; R | PACT | ACT after P |
| 20 | Ed(O)m; A | ESAU | EU around SA |
| 22 | TOPAZ | 3 meanings | |
| 23 | F(R)ee; L | ENSEAM | SEAMEN * |
| 24 | (B)ank; L | DAMPED | DAM + DEP < |
| 26 | ASPS | (h)ASPS | |
| 28 | SHADOWERS | SHAD + WORSE * | |
| 31 | Mari(A); E | CAMARILLA | (CALL MARIA) * |
| 33 | POND | POD around N | |
| 35 | POMELO | (O + LEMO(n) + P(roduce)) < | |
| 37 | HERERO | HERO around RE | |
| 39 | GISMO | GI’S + MO | |
| 40 | NETE | (Philippi)NE TE(nor) | |
| 42 | DRAB | BARD < | |
| 43 | ARÊTE | A + TREE * | |
| 46 | (W)hen; T | ÅSAR | AS + A + R |
| 47 | ACONITUM | (COMA UNIT) * | |
| 48 | ANTRE | (Asi)AN TRE(tise) | |
| 49 | AGUE | (v)AGUE | |
| 50 | SIROCCO | CORSIC(a) * + O’ | |
| 51 | RELISH | R + ELI + S + H | |
| 52 | scen(E); T | SNAKE-PIT | SPIT around NAKE(d) |
| Down | |||
| 1 | RASSELAS | RAS + ’S + SALE < | |
| 2 | g(O)ld; E | AORTA | OR in AT + A(nchor) |
| 3 | STRAUSS | TARSUS * + S | |
| 4 | SHAW | 2 meanings | |
| 5 | SLOE | SLOPE − P | |
| 6 | (G)unners; R | FORRAD | RA in FORD |
| 7 | RAHL | RA + H + L | |
| 8 | CISCOES | COSSIE around C | |
| 9 | li(F)ting; S | ELATED | TALE < + ED |
| 10 | NEESES | SEEN < + E + S | |
| 12 | TUPÍ | T(ry) U(mami) P(aste) I(ndecisively) | |
| 15 | ROPED | PEDRO with letters “cycled” | |
| 19 | hal(F); O | APPRO | PROPA(ganda) * |
| 21 | I(N); F | MESAL | S in MEAL |
| 22 | TAHR | (H in RAT) < | |
| 25 | AWARN | WAR in AN | |
| 27 | (D)ad’s; C | PAMPA | PA after PAM |
| 29 | Po(P)e’s; L | OLEO | O + LEO |
| 30 | ADHERENT | HER in (A + DENT) | |
| 31 | COURAGE | CAGE around OUR | |
| 32 | INSET | IN + SET | |
| 33 | PENANCE | PEN + AN + CE | |
| 34 | NOTARY | N + OTARY | |
| 35 | PEDLAR | (’D + L) in PEAR | |
| 36 | L(I)ke; U | OIRISH | IRIS in OH |
| 38 | OBOE | (B)OB (n)O(t)E(d); ie letters in prime-numbered positions | |
| 41 | ESTOP | EST + OP | |
| 43 | ANIS | (Manchuri)AN IS(lamicists) | |
| 44 | ac(T); E | TURN | 2 meanings |
| 45 | pa(R)t; S | ZACK | (walt)Z ACK(nowledged) |