Spectator 1901

[Matakari]

Some confirmaton and hints, please!
ACROSS:
12.Grand church to go round - inside it's holy ( 4 ): EPIC?
24. Age to muse ( 5 ): ERATO?
40. Rachman bringing destruction to film distributor ( 10,hyphend): RACK-RENTED?

SOME HINTS FOR THE FOLLOWING:
ACROSS:
30. Who could be Alec's sweetie? ( ) :???r??e
37. Became a king in official robe ( 5 )
41. Money for a jumper?( 4 )
41. Money from press-box, ddly ( 4 )
DOWN:
4.Languish in Asia Minor (5 )
31. Bad sign having month on panel without judge(6)
34. US school-girl embracing love spoke fondly(5)
3.Conclusion of maiden voyage(5)

Thanks for whatever help you can offer!

[johnalex]

24 confirm ERA+TO

[shaneystar2]

Epic yes
Erato yes
rack renter
Across
30 hint ..Smart Alec
37 another word for a robe with R (king)
39 type of kangaroo(jumper) and a currency (very low aginst the pound at the mo')
41 Odd letters in the clue
Down
4 Lydia ( find this hard to hint at it's a definition of languish
31A panel is a jury lose the J and put a month in front
34 Co education ? O = love
35 In the clue

[johnalex]

41 alternate letters 'oddly' beginning P(ress)

[Matakari]

Many thanks for the help! Great hints, Shaneystar2! You MUST be a setter with a good heart...I thoroughly enjoyed the hints and keep learning from you... Now, I do not yet own a Brewer and for the quotation, I'm left with a mighty puzzle...some of the words, I suspect, must be archaic...
42A: ?O?A??Y?Y? DAY 21D: WHAT EVERY 1D THERE 6D: TO CHE?E 22D ?IS M?KE...I am trying to Google this and it's getting more and more exciting! Any final tips?
Thanks again and a Happy Valentine Day to you and yours!

[shaneystar2]

Morning Matakari
Wikipedia is your friend . I don't have a Brewers either .
You've already mentioned who this phrase refers to !
Hint ....Chaucer .
Happy Valentines day .

[Matakari]

Thanks for your wishes and your hints, Shaneystar2! You are a real dear! Interesting! I shall get cracking on it as soon as I've had my breakfast! Cheers!

[Sarrie]

Lydia Languish was the heroine of Sheridan's The Rivals.

[Matakari]

Thanks for the information about Lydia Languish, Sarrie! And many thanks again, Shaneystar2! I have now completed the puzzle and have found it to be very informative...a true learning experience! Thanks again!

[crucifernz]

Thank for the hints on the Chaucer. I don't have Brewer hard copy and was stumped. I guess the original Middle English spelling is to be used.

[Matakari]

Hi, crucifernz! I used the original English and do not envisage any problem with that since the letters did ot in any way disrupt any of the other answers! But I may be wrong. Could anyone confirm? Many thanks!

[Helveticus]

Hi Matakari,

I think the original spelling should be used for the unclued lights. Could you (or anyone else) please help me with the second half of 19D? I don't think the light is in my (slightly) outdated copy of Chambers.

[Matakari]

Are you sure it's 19D you mean? In any case I have SKIPLANE for that! Cheers!

[Helveticus]

Many thanks Matakari!

D'oh! I must have been eating Idiot Flakes for breakfast again. I was so fixated by the 4-4 split in the wordplay that I forgot that the light could split differently (3-5)

Best wishes.

[Matakari]

No problem, Helveticus! Glad to help!