Listener 4161 To Have and Have Not by Lavatch

[Eril]

Anyone else have a problem with too many extras of a certain letter?

Very enjoyable puzzle, though haven't entirely understood all of the thematic treatments. Thanks Lavatch (and if solvers enjoyed that one then Lavatch did a very difficult Spectator recently)

[emcee]

Haven't finished by a long chalk. Much tougher than recent puzzles, I can't see me finishing for quite a while yet. MC

[midazolam]

Tougher compared to the run we have experienced recently. Not a subject i know a lot about, but the grid construction and thematic "gimmicks" were excellent Listener material. I liked 28 down and 31 across (right up my avatar) although I dont think "for" is quite right in 38 across. Enjoyable solve, thanks Lavatch

[Ruthrobin]

Yes, indeed, this was more difficult than of late but very satisfying with so much thematic material to uncover. Many thanks, Lavatch.

[Zabadak]

A considerable cut above recent offerings, I thought - no sudden inexplicable jumps from simple grid fill to can you guess what it is yet twists in the tail, but a model of step by step discovery. Lovely, elegant clues and and an elegant final grid. Congrats to Lavatch.
I think "for" in 38ac is necessary.

[TheBear69]

Excellent puzzle, Lavatch!

[midazolam]

Zabadak, cruciverbally it should be from not for. One shouldn't change the rules just to make the clue flow better.

[midazolam]

Don't worry the light has dawned. Sorry Lavatch

[Eril]

The morning (and BRB bashing) has cleared up that last niggle - as usual it was the last to be investigated! Thematic treatments of an excellent standard, good clues, and a model resolution. For another (comparable) Lavatch try http://www.spectator....7075893/crossword.pdf

[dead-eye]

Very enjoyable offering from Lavatch, with a theme that everyone will know. None of the struggles of recent weeks staring at full grids. First-class.

[aldanna]

Perhaps I am not on my top form after having the grandchildren to stay over half term, but I am finding this is going very very slowly. I seem to have guessed what to do with the left half, but that is the nearest I have come to any sort of pdm.

[pushmi-pullyu]

I'm still a long way from completion, but finding it very enjoyable, and 28d made me laugh out loud.

[tilbee]

Agree with others a very well constructed and enjoyable puzzle. Tougher clueing than of late, leading through to a series of satisfying PDMs

[Rogue-Elfe]

Am I just being stupid today?
I have only solved 12a (which I did with no assistance from reference books) and with said books have made no other progress at all. I was beginning to think that this was another attempt to deliberately vex us, in the vein of Max Beerbohm all those years ago. Apparantly not; so I'll try again to make sense out of any other clue.

[contendo]

So we finally got the toughie that everyone's been predicting after a relatively easy run. I've managed to fill the left half but have some way to go on the right. Some exquisite cluing.

[jim360]

Barely started this - but thought it mildly amusing that one of the answers has the same clue as in the Jumbo crossword on the next page!

[abns]

This is the kind of listener I love. Entries you have to figure out how to fit in the grid and enough thematic breakthroughs to keep you going to the end. Brilliant.

Anyone else go down a blind alley with the 'two words' - using 11 of the same letters?

[midazolam]

Contendo...just wait until next week!

[Ruthrobin]

Yes, Midazolam beat me to it. We have been warned that next week's is the real awaited shocker! Magpie publicly warned all its subscribers.

[bobbycollins]

Evening all...

Well, I'm at a very familiar place. A phrase from the right hand side, two apparently unconnected seven letter words, and staring blankly at a full grid. Ho-hum.

[sunny-dave]

Excellent - the best since my return from the widerness - some lovely clues, hard but fair thematic fiddling and a nice final grid alteration :)