Genius by Degen

Puzzle explanation

The corrections to misprints spelt out “This island is made mainly of …; Bevan”, from a speech given by Aneurin Bevan in Blackpool on 24 May 1945 and printed in the Daily Herald the following day. The full quotation, to which the puzzle’s title referred, was “This island is made mainly of coal and surrounded by fish. Only an organising genius could produce a shortage of coal and fish at the same time”. In the grid, three highlighted forms of coal (LIGNITE, BITUMINOUS and ANTHRACITE) made an approximate outline of Great Britain, and the grid’s perimeter consisted of fish.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Misprint/extra word Answer Explanation
Across
8 Sal(T)y SEA ASTER AS in SEATER
10   OMANI (OIL − L) around MAN
11 cas(H)ing AUTOPTIC AUTO + P + TIC
12 qu(I)lls STYLOS STY + LOS
15 In(S)ert STICK 2 meanings
16 qu(I)ck RUSHES 2 meanings
19 line(S) NEMATIC (TITANIC − IT) * around ’EM
20 (L)ong PROLIX LOR < in PIX
21 me(A)ls TAPAS TA + S after PA
24 moo(N)ed MOPED M(arxist) + OP-ED
25 sli(D)e ICE RUN IC + E + RUN
28 December SERRIES (p)RESSIE(s) * around (ca)R
29 orange-t(I)ps ANTLIA (Blat)ANT LIA(r)
30 Mas(S) INGOT IN + GOT
31   STERIC ST + ERIC
34 hunter FULL-PELT FULL + PELT
36 strea(M) BROOK BOOK around (Lo)R(d’s)
37 bl(A)sters IGNITERS I + RESTING *
Down
1   OSMIUM (I’M in MUSO) <
2 Spu(D)s BANT ((K)AN(e) + (su)BT(le)) *
3 plough AS ALSO (A + SO) around SAL
4 R(E)nt LET L(i)T(t)E(r) *
5 sa(M)e HEPTAGON H(awkwind) + EP + TAG + ON
6   ANTITYPAL (AT INAPTLY) *
7 s(A)y DEICIDE I in DECIDE; ref. Egyptian god Set
9 R(I)vers EAS (b)EA(t) + S
13 lo(N)e ONLIEST (TO + (standing)S + IN + E + L) *
14 b(L)own SEIF SE(a) + IF
17 Stick(Y) SUPERGLUE (SLUG PUREE) *
18 or ERS (lag)ER S(tout)
20 r(O)sters PAYROLLS (RAY + POLLS) with first letters switched
22 Fi(F)th AVENUES E in (A + VENUS)
23 (B)ridge ACES A + C(h)E(e)S(e)
24 mal(E) MUN M + UN
26   RAETIA (T(his) E(rstwhile) R(oman) A(rea) I(ncluded) A(ugsburg)) *
27 fi(V)e RIBOSE AIR < + BOSE − A
32   IRES (The)IR ES(tate)
33 Wh(A)t COR C(laymore) + OR
35 o(N)e’s EGO EG + O
Back to 2025 menu