Listener Crossword 4572: Solution Notes
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 | |