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geeker

18th January 2025, 00:25
Thanks to Imogen.
On the gentle side, a marked change from last week's Enigmatist punishment.
Pangram.
FOI 14, LOI the 2/10 combo.
Need to think about COD, possible theme, etc.
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geeker

18th January 2025, 00:27
COD 23a due to witty construction.
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rogissimo

18th January 2025, 00:45
Isn’t it interesting how experiences differ? I think I found last week’s Enigmatist, though tough, somewhat more straightforward than today’s Imogen, at least partly because the latter involved knowing words or GK that I simply didn’t know and had to guess at and check. FOI 2 (which I didn’t really like). LOI 1 (which vied for COD, but in the end I agree with you, geeker: the palm has to go to 23a)
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mogwai

18th January 2025, 01:05
Less strenuous than last week's Enigmatist, though I still struggled quite a bit with the NW corner. LOI was 12a, and still unsure about my answer... The construction of 23a is particularly clever.
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rogissimo

18th January 2025, 01:15
I didn’t really like 12a, mogwai. It contributes to the pangram that geeker cleverly spotted, but it feels like a bit of a strain, to me at least.
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geeker

18th January 2025, 01:21
Agreed on 12, not a strong clue.
Pangrams in consecutive Prizes (I read 225 this evening).
Enjoyed 11, nice allusion which caused a smile when the penny dropped.
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rogissimo

18th January 2025, 01:27
Agreed, geeker, I liked 11 too. In fact there are a number of really good clues, which make the weaker ones both forgivable and at the same time a bit of a shame. (I’m afraid I have to add 9 to the latter).
Happy that we’ve had a good run of challenging crosswords in the Guardian recently, though.
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darla

18th January 2025, 01:49
An easier go after last week's workout? Fat chance. Maybe it just took me awhile to get a feel for Imogen's style. My experience for both weeks was similar to rogissimo's. Excellent way to put it - last week was more straightforward, and I did have to search the web for several references in this one. Italian poets, along with Wordsworth. The Kant reference I did recall, but checked just to be sure.

I join you gentlemen in awarding COD to 23. Very clever.
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geeker

18th January 2025, 02:16
I rather liked 9 because the definition is clever and I (being American) often fail on cryptic homophones. But the wordplay is really awkward (the repeated "in"), so the idea was better than the execution.
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jono

18th January 2025, 05:58
Good fun I thought. Given the various GK, classical references I put this on a par with last week. Spotted the pangram potential early on which proved helpful for my LOI which just happened to be 12a.

In other news, I’ve heard that Picaroon is taking up an editorial position at the Telegraph and may not therefore continue contributions in his various guises to the to Guardian, FT, Independent etc. That will be a shame but good luck to James if that’s the case.
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