Spectator 1907

[greyfox]

How do Specciephiles. 'Little Women' by Doc:

http://www.spectator.co.uk/article_assets/arti cledir_6947/3473576/crossword.pdf

[Spaghetti]

'Morning, greyfox. Thanks again for the link.

[kayakamina]

Thanks again for the link greyfox.

Enjoyable as usual and Doc had the right date for this puzzle.

[Christiana]

Thanks for the link. No time to do it yet, but wanted to make sure I didn't lose the thread (or the plot)

[mad max]

Many thanks for link

[DocHH]

Thank you for the link once again Greyfox. It was most enjoyable, but probably the quickest Speccie I have solved.

Hello Christiana, see you monday?

[dr b]

Straightforward enough this week, but I was confused by one item in the instructions: "Each of them - and the other individual unclued lights and 5's can be paired with a word..."

What's meant by "and 5's" here? (the clued 5-letter answers?) I didn't see any relevance to the solution so maybe I'm missing something.

[slaney]

Dr b..I think 5's means clue 5d + 's.

[dr b]

Ah. (or, "duh". ) Ok, so does the word in 5d have some meaning in the context of cryptic crosswords? ("unclued lights" was a new one on me when I started doing the spectator, so maybe 5d is as well.)

[dr b]

Oh, never mind, I just found a reference to "5d + keyword."

[DocHH]

drb,
I thought I was meant to be the Rambling Wreck!
Ciao ciao!

[robinruth]

I didn't find it so easy. The total of fifteen unclued words almost had me stumped even when I had all the other words in, and the title didn't immediately hint at anything. Nice one though.

[Helveticus]

Managed to solve everything except the unclued 4-letter light in the bottom right hand corner. Could anyone give me a hint?

[crucifernz]

I've guessed bottom right-hand corner is KING - referring to Sousa?

[crucifernz]

In exchange for giving that one away(oops!), I'm stumped by the last unclued light in the perimeter. I have TA?L? - there aren't many words that fit here, but as I don't have hard copies of Chambers or Brewer, I can't confirm? Also am I right in thinking that 27A refers to a 'gem'?
Thanks in advance.

[Rapparee]

TABLE is your perimeter entry and and you are right about 27a

[robinruth]

Yes, I am sure you are right about the gem and I have TABLE for the last one. It came up on a crossword compiler wordlist connected with the theme word.

[crucifernz]

Thanks Rapparee and Robinruth - I hope I'm also right about Sousa?

[bathtub]

The Sousa reference seems convincing, but my elderly copy of Brewer's doesn't allow me to verify it.

What's the four letter word at bottom left (_ _ NE)? I'm sure it's straightforward, but it's been a long, long day...

[crucifernz]

Hi Bathtub
All I know is that Sousa was called the M****-King and I can't find any other K words which are likely.
Bottom left corner I have the second half of an alternative 9 letter spelling for a sweet confection made of almonds. Try looking up M****??ne
Perhaps one of the other solvers can confirm - then I can post my completed Xwd to the UK.

[slaney]

Hi crucifernz. - yes, - KING is in the latest edition of Brewer.