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Hi Chris,

35 - Is a subtractive anagram (remember that setters don't include any words in the clue that aren't needed) - misprint is in the 4th word.

..... actually Chris, it's incorrect to say it's a subtractive anagram more accurate would be that one combination of words in the clue + the answer would give another couple of words in the clue.

Aha, I see... I understood the definition and the answer, I just didn't get the wordplay and didn't really understand the position of the definition. This isn't a kind of clue I've encountered often!

Okay, I think this is done and dusted, with the possible exception of the initials.

I definitely fall down on the side of those who are delighted by the final (non-required) steps--I was astonished as I saw what it all added up to!

I've found what I understand to be the initials of the condemned man, but it didn't require changing anything in the grid, so I think perhaps I've misunderstood the instructions (that sentence in the preamble isn't entirely clear to me). The letters I've found are strictly "consecutive", but they are not linearly arranged, if that makes sense. Not sure if that means I'm skipping a step.

Chris,

As someone said in a much earlier post on this thread, it requires a pretty advanced level of specialist knowledge to get this puzzle over the line unaided. However, that last step becomes easier to identify if you consult the Wikipedia entry on the thematic work.

I suppose what I’m saying is, I have found consecutive/orthogonal (but not linearly arranged) initials matching those of the condemned man, but it did not require letter substitutions in order to find that string of three letters on the grid, so I’m wondering if I’m missing a step from the preamble, because the potentially relevant sentence isn’t clearly worded to me.

Sorry, never mind, I think I've found the relevant trio of letters. It's slightly odd, because there are three orthogonal letters that form the initials without need for replacement, and they abut the other thematic content, but it's all arbitrary anyway I suppose! Impressive puzzle.

I’ve just crawled over the line with this one. Thanks chrisremo - I was fixated on those exact same three letters and your post got me looking again and I’ve now found the right ones (I think). Thanks to others for helpful hints too as this was a real challenge but worth the effort. I agree with some that it was frustrating following the clue ordering but this was surely necessary for the extra thematic material which was worth it in my opinion. And finally thanks to Aver!

A lovely puzzle, cleverly packed with thematic material and entertaining to the very end. 27a does however require some poetic licence since 'the thing he loves' (one of the direct quotations from the thematic work) plays no part in the wordplay and should therefore properly define the answer. However the intended answer is defined by 'taking cocaine (is) the thing he loves', so rather than enhancing the definition as in a sound semi-&lit clue, the wordplay here is essential to the definition, causing potential confusion for the solver.

A final footnote from me, as I'm now into my third year of regular Listener solving and sending-in. Of course, the main reason to send in the puzzles is to obtain and feature in the awesome statistics that John sends out each year! But for the first time since I started sending them in, I appeared on the winner's list for this one, and a brand spanking new Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, marked with the touches of Susie Dent's handiwork and the first time I've actually owned one of these, has just arrived in the post for me and has already been an interesting read :-)