Crossword

‘40/37/1A’, as he has been called, was born in 28 (two words) and died in 30/36. He was a reluctant ‘guest’ at 16’s twenty-seventh birthday party. 22 and 40 combine to form an anagram of the name of one of his works, while the puzzle’s title suggests the name of another. His surname appears as a clued light and must be shaded.   Across 5    English poet has women quite turned on (6) 9    Passing vet can see ninety bats (10) 14    Rex’s hairdo (3) 17    Dutch archbishop pirouetting in formal garb (5) 18    Film star Peter upset a swashbuckling one? (5) 20    Backward journo needling woke Oscar winner?

Four unclued lights are thematic and are defined by two others. They are found in The 21 and 2 (also the singular of a fifth unclued light). Another unclued light is partly thematic, yet another was a high officer, whilst a final pair show status. One clued light is an abbreviation.   Across 11    Thankless daughter that’s broken up loves and leaves for season (7) 12    Biblical character with pain in both hands (6) 13    Carpet has nap woven round edge, all in scarlet (9) 14    Fantasy – in short, ecstasy (5) 16    Despots – Middle Eastern – contract lung infection (5) 19    Type of movie with lots of drawings?

The unclued lights (individually or one pair) are of a kind. But, before entry into the grid, all but one has to be adapted figuratively speaking, so that one or two characters appear in an unchecked square.

Unclued lights are of a kind, including one of two words, all listed in Chambers or Oxford (the required spelling of 12 across is given by both dictionaries). One clued light can be rearranged to form a possible two-word description of each unclued light and must be highlighted.

One of the unclued entries (two words) can be followed by each of the others (two of three words, one of two words), according to Brewer.   Across 1    Clean turns into crashes – rash? (8) 8    What goes up, to go down like a lead balloon?

The unclued lights share a common feature at least once, different in each case.   Across 7    Liechtenstein test about roses and orchids, say (6) 13    Dot’s second kiss (5) 14    Paragons left out for plans (5) 15    Shave with iodine in Eastern part of China (7) 17    Right to hold gun overturned? Confirmation’s needed (7) 18    Five hundred flourishing trees. Not here, surely?

1A (hyphened) suggests a word which, with changes to its 7D 33, becomes the four other words (including a name) suggested by the remaining unclued lights (including a pair). The word will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded.

Seven unclued entries had the same relationship to an eighth (appearing as the two other unclued lights).   Across 1    Tease females after tea (5) 9    Misrepresentation of man in notes from St Paul?

The unclued lights are of a kind, verifiable in Brewer.   Across 11    Oil-well cap adjusted as ornamentation (10, two words) 13    Some entertainer, dynamic, but socially inept (5) 14    Horseman’s additional clause (5) 15    Half-scores I have in short are nerve-racking (7) 18    Wicket that is most unplayable for a batsman? (6) 19    Jack’s heard something in church (4) 22    Len rummaged in the locker with gusto (6) 24    O, Gorblimi — it’s a mess — it’s a tangle (9) 25    Cross beams?

It is the centenary of a daring feat. Unclued lights (two of two words) include two surnames, two locations (two pairs) and the aptly positioned name of a key item (a pair). Ignore an apostrophe.   Across 1    Matronage almost outraged Lily (8) 6    Appear briefly and go quietly (4) 12    Toolmaker out of Alaska playing musical device (7) 14    Pot of water bishop dropped (3) 15    Who’s there in support keeping goal?

Clues for ten thematically linked entries (all single words) have been left out.   Across 9    Hot-rod awry? — fancy not being this (10) 14    Jackass regularly rejected 60s music (3) 18    Behind in award, finally going ahead (5) 20    Get better poet to enter competition (7, two words) 22    Venture around the City, not much of an area (7) 24    Extremely engaging men in ladies’ underwear — crikey! (7) 25    Worries about ship holding water capsizing (5) 26    Fight animals back, avoiding river (5, hyphened) 28    Enduring a lot of cobblers?

Clues are presented in strict alphabetical order of their solutions. Solvers have to assign the solutions to their correct places in the grid jigsaw-fashion.

The unclued lights are of a kind, including one hyphened, all confirmed in Chambers except for 8 across, which is in Collins. Elsewhere, ignore two accents.