Times 24288

[a.trembath]

Stuck on last 3.

16 ac. A-N- Composer from department in NE France, not married (4)

19 d. N-L-M-O On about b_____ stubborn person over in plant (7)

23 d. S-A-E Novel about 7, headless ghost (5)

Answer to clue 7 is SAD - I know of a novel called SHAME but still can't see why that would be the answer

[SpodoCommodo]

16a Arne - (M)arne

19d nelumbo - 'on' with 'b' + 'mule' inside, all backwards

23 shade - novel = She, 7 is 'sad', headless = 'ad'

[a.trembath]

Brilliant! many thanks, Andy

[bluemanx3]

andy how does headless = ad?

[SpodoCommodo]

remove the leading (head) letter from the word 'sad'

[bluemanx3]

thanks SpodoCommodo, now i dont understand novel=she!

[SpodoCommodo]

You're welcome

[Catron]

She: A History of Adventure is a novel by H. Rider Haggard, first serialized in The Graphic from October 1886 to January 1887

[albaqwerty]

the novel SHE was also made into a film with Ursula Undress (Andress sorry)

[bluemanx3]

tyvm catron! u wouldnt believe it, but this is the first time i completed that crossword today inspite of my ignorance, i got shade directly from ghost, once again thanks for word play explanation

[bluemanx3]

ty also albaqwerty!

[albaqwerty]

yw blue but as you'll see there are more intelligent folk who can give you the why's and wherefore's. I thing they are great.

[a.trembath]

Sorry everyone for not joining in the debate but after receiving the first response my computer went on the blink. Cheers, Andy