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Brendan, I might have said this earlier, it's the theme from the top row that is crucial, and leads to untangling the bottom row. The author used the work in the top row, but its earlier - possibly larger - importance is what leads to untangling the bottom.

Got it - at last!!!!!

Many thanks Malone:-)

Thanks, Brendan - my 'helpful' stuff earlier didn't seem to be terribly useful, I'm glad this was!

Thanks Malone. The only fly in the ointment is 23a, where my answer is 3, 3 at least according to Chambers, but the clue says 6?

Brendan, there was no mention of any ... word books, possibly for thematic reasons?!

I was just asking if the answer to 23a is (6) as it says in the clue, or (3,3) as it says in Chambers and the FreeOnline Dictionary? But it doesn't really matter.

Thanks, Brendan - I'd just wondered if it was perhaps (6) in another of the standard references, though the (3,3) seems better. On reflection, though, if it's 3,3 in Chambers that would have been the norm for the puzzle.

Thanks for that Grayfriar. I will keep looking but I will also check that I haven't gone wrong somewhere and have a letter/letters wrong. That wouldn't be the first time.

I should also have added that I could be looking for wrong author.

Take message below and move each letter back one, then anybody who doesn't want to know doesn't have to translate it.

tubsu bu ovncfs uxp boe hp epxo ejbhpobmmz upxbset tpvui fbtu

bmepvt ivymfz

One of his novels, cryptically, should give you the first eleven letters of the top line.