Sat. Times 24293

[thumbscrew]

16ac. Stories drastically cut in apocryphal books. (6) E?D?A?.

[glasman]

storiES DRAStically

[Lie-in King]

16a "Stori Es dras tically..."

[kayakamina]

Esdras ...in clue

[MOUCHA]

Esdras

[thumbscrew]

Many thanks all, what is esdras?

[glasman]

Esdras (Εσδράς A′) is a book from the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament regarded as canonical in Eastern and Oriental Orthodoxy, but regarded as apocryphal by Jews, Catholics, and most Protestants. It is listed among the Apocrypha in Article VI of the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England.[1] It is similar to the Book of Ezra, but under a different arrangement and with 99 additional verses, which include a polished conclusion that the much shorter Ezra lacks. Modern texts begin with the last two short chapters of the preceding Biblical work � II Chronicles (Paralipomenon) � and the work properly begins in Chapter 2.

[Lie-in King]

Esdras 1 & 2 are Books of the Apocrypha (Bible), frequently not accepted, hence not included

[Lie-in King]

In awe of glasman, hides in corner with stiff drink...

[thumbscrew]

Many thanks both I didn't know that, therefore didn't see the written in answer in the clue.

[glasman]

Wish I could take the credit but pasted from Wikipedia, unfortunately.