Listener 4073: Quartet by MynoT

[midazolam]

I think we have turned a corner in terms of difficulty.

Another outstanding grid construction. The lack of unches made the task easier once the quotation was got, but the way it all tied in together was very pleasing. Some straightforward and some tough clues made this my favourite of the year so far.

Thanks MynoT

[fancydan]

I have finished the puzzle.
All squares filled, and the Quartet found, but I haven't solved the Graduate embraces clue.
I have 3 vowels and four consonants, one of them twice.
I just can't make a word out of them.
Any gentle nudges please

[Ruthrobin]

Put your double consonant first and fifth and your vowels second, fourth and last (the graduate is of a higher degree!) I am sure that is sufficiently obscure to upset nobody. Good luck!

[shelouse]

I agree with all the comments about Bradford's - I got it recently on Ruthrobin's recommendation (who else? ... you really should apply for commission). I would like also to recommend Chambers Backwords, which can be helpful when you have only the ending of a word. It is also very portable when compared to he other tomes.

[Ruthrobin]

Thanks, Shelouse. I don't have it and clearly should get it.

[perseverer]

Well through AmazonUK you can get a second hand copy for £63.97!

[shelouse]

I see what you mean, perseverer! Weird - my original cost £9.99 new several years ago.

[jacinth]

fancydan - if you're familiar with quinapalus word solver then check your anagram using "SOWPODS" as the dictionary - it'll pop up there. If you Google that word with "definition", things should become clearer!

[Clamzy]

I find the one weakness of Bradford's is that e.g.sick(en),sickening, sickliness etc., share one entry. In my old (1992) Chambers thesaurus the various forms - noun, adjective, adverb, have their own separate listing which I find useful. You may even find a copy for £63.96 but I doubt it.
However neither of them are much help when barely a month into the new year you check 4070, a particularly easy puzzle, and find your entry has a blank cell but your home copy is correct.:-(

[7lattens]

Re Bradfords - seems to be a fair selection of "Bradfords" - the £60 plus edition I can locate is "Longmans" by Bradford - is the prized possession ?

[Ruthrobin]

I used to use the tiny Collins Gem editions - the lists and crossword solver's dictionary at under £5 each but now use the £12.99 edition - paperback ISBN 978-0-00-727464-2 This was the 2008 edition and I believe there have been a couple since then. It is invaluable.

[Apache4D]

Clamzy, a peer on this website had previously stated that he sent his working copies of his grids in, with overwrites and all, as long as they were legibile to ensure that no transcription errors existed....after having a few incidences myself last year of leaving the odd cell blank, this year I have opted to do the same and now only use one grid

[fancydan]

Thanks to you both.
I had all the right letters, but I couldn't find the word in Chambers.
Quinalpus found it and I checked on line for the definition.
Cheers