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I am stuck on just 2 in the Guardian Christmas crossword: 51 across and 44 down - i am sure the latter must have WAN reversed in there (turn pale) Help appreciated.

44 Down is BENGAW (fictional character following the theme of the crossword) and 51 Across is NOGGS (i.e. no gee gee s at Nerwmarket) Another fictional character

Sorry, there was a typo!

I should have written BEGNAW

Thanks Brackendale ... my day is made!

A little correction:

44d is not[/bt a Dickensian character at all - there is no such character in all his works. The clue is a proper cryptic clue to the word "begnaw" which means "eat away", and has both wordplay and a definition. The clues to Dickensian characters in this crossword only have the wordplay part of the clue.

I've just taken the "Dickens Companion" off the shelf. There are so many characters who are not listed on Wikipedia.
However, no sign of a Begnaw.
Nearest is Mrs Ridger Begs (Miss Emma Micawber as was) in David Copperfield.
Book now dusted, along with the others and put back in its place

Yes, it was my mistake.

I got the solution from the clue and just assumed it was another fictional character - it certainly sounds like it! And I have never heard of of the verb "begnaw" but I now see it lurkung in my Chambers Dictionary.

I will have to try and use it!!

An admirable New Year's resolution would be to dust one's whole battery of Dickens novels (even if one can't read them all every year, which certainly is the case if you're, say, "recycling" Trollope). I ought to be embarrassed to admit that when I pull an old favo(u)rite off the shelf I have to take it outside to remove the thick layer of melancholy neglect.

I've a sneeking suspicion that Auracaria was secretly hoping there would be a character with that name. Quite a mousy or ratty type!

We too have a complete set of Charles Dickens novels gathering dust in our loft.
However, as you can now buy his complete works for just 99 pence (cheaper than a duster!) on a Kindle I think next time I try a Dickens themed crossword I'll just pay the 99 pence.