Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Apologies Jono! I meant to thank you for the 24d hint and Luftmensch for the advice.

You’re welcome Tegumen, if you figure out 11a let me know, I’m sure I parsed it at the time but I’m not seeing it now.

Jono, I think I've nailed the parsing and it might jog your mind! I have it as the rubbish element going backwards around a typical contraction for the fifth word, plus the first asterisked word identifying the correct sixth letter in the answer. Sorry if I'm being oblique but also sorry if I've given away too much to anyone who hasn't solved this one but I've been on the wrack with this one. Whole puzzle done now and I'm happy with all my answers. Again, what an enjoyable, innovative and brilliant crossword. Chapeau Qaos!

Ah yes, that’s it, thanks!

A pleasure! I don't post often on this forum and can't recall the last time I was the supplier of assistance, rather than the humble and grateful recipient of wisdom and illumination.

Before I file this one away, can I get some clarity on ...

3d - It's raised in class when * * * * * * the answer in writing (4)

Given the 2 crossing letters I'm assuming the answer is what a pupil might raise in class alert the teacher they want to answer a question - but how is it parsed and why "in writing"?

Hi Brendan, I took this as a double definition, “writing” being the second one

Many thanks Jono, I'm sure you're right - Chambers gives it as "a style of writing" but, needless to say, I only checked this after the fact! 🤬

An enjoyable solve. My only issue was with the second asterisk in 7 - online versions of the poem have two possibilities for this word: a longer, correct (according to the Wikipedia image) one; and a shorter one which seems to have been used by Qaos.

I noticed that too, Andy. The Wikipedia page has an image of the first publication of the poem which has the “wrong” (for our purposes) word, why it has been changed in later versions is a mystery to me, I prefer the original!