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I think the 7 letter word becomes less random once a particularly nasty character emerges from its centre - and the theme is (broadly) 'history', after all.
But I agree - the excellent clues are the best part of this puzzle.

Quite enjoyed this one. Just two I couldn't parse: 37d and 21a. Can anyone give any pointers?

37 - a composite anag with two anagrinds - remove [mad] from Dearie me + anag.
The other clue was given earlier in the thread.

...but to save you trawling through it -
tha[t] around a 4 letter word for 'edges' ('pins' is the container).

Thanks drxx!

I’ve completed the grid , found the lines from the prologue & worked out 14 & 24 down. I can also see the words from first sentence in the grid but I’ve hit a blank on how they need changed. Maybe due to not being sure of first 3 moved words. Any hints gratefully received.

numbskull, the letters of the words from the first sentence should be changed to create a thematic word. As drxx has pointed out, the resulting word at 18 down becomes a nasty piece of work!

Thanks bobbycollins, all clear now.

I still cannot see what to do with the 2 words (3, 4). Any help? Dunce.

ethik - change all of the letters of 3,4, to one word of 7 letters and ''3,4 is a 7,7'' (literally, the quotation).