Spectator N0 2536

[Matakari]

Good evening, I’m stuck on a few for which I need some answers, thanks in advance!
ACROSS:
17 Biblical land about to get bread (6) : ????A?
21 Image about one mount joining several states (9, hyphened) : ????R???C
24 Tower’s inhabitants party with partners (6) : ?A????
25 Indianan keen to embrace necessity (6) : ?N??E?
39 Fictional detective’s forgetting line in platforms (8): ????H???
DOWN:
13 French writer with fun bird (8, hyphened) : ??????N?
18 Bait from Germanic settler by German city (10) : ????C?A???
23 Trust old object to captivate an Earl (8) : ??A?T???
And here is an invitation to participate in a worthy cause: the yearly Charity Christmas Puzzle. I have almost completed it and find it very interesting, indeed. Your donation would be welcome for this one.
www.christmaspuzzle.uk

[cashier]

17 Canaan

[shaneystar2]

21 pan arabic
24 ravens
25 ananke
39 estrades
13 sand lark
18 angle worms
24 reliance

[Neveracrossword]

A 'few'?! I think I'll have a few glasses of wine tonight...

Thanks for the charity puzzle information.

[Matakari]

Many thanks, Shaneystar2 and Cashier!

[teacher1]

Help and explanation for 8a please. Dancing girls wanting a relief. (8) a?ms

[bobbinwales]

alms

[ProfessorMaisie]

Almas are dancing girls.

[teacher1]

Thank you ...... still learning something new. ;o)

[bobbinwales]

IS IT to do with almehs?

[bobbinwales]

Almehs also spelled Almahs. Did nt know it could be almas though, so if it is then wanting/an A would be ALMS

[ProfessorMaisie]

There are 3 alt spellings, bobbinwales - alma, almah and almeh [but in this case it's ALM(a)S 'wanting a'].

[ProfessorMaisie]

...you type much quicker than I do, bobbinwales!

[Matakari]

Good Sunday morning! Thanks again for all the help with the niggling clues! I'm pleased to have sorted out all the Unclueds when once I got 11(A) and, of course, my knowledge of some French culture and literature helped a great deal, too. I'm eagerly awaiting the Christmas offerings. By the way, has anyone tackled the Charity Christmas Puzzle yet? It's exciting and I'm left with just about six clues to work out...I suspect they are somewhat archaic, but fortunately I should be in England for the Christmas holidays and I'll certainly retrieve my Chambers which should be of great help! Cheers!

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, glad you were pleased to get all the answers (aka 'niggling clues', there was an awful lot of blank spaces!). I tried the Christmas Puzzle when you mentioned it a year or two ago. It was good, but quite time-consuming!

[Matakari]

Thanks, NACW, yes, the Christmas Puzzle takes some time, but I've been doing it in stages among other things. I'll probably consult you later for a few hints on some of the more obscure clues. Thanks in advance! Meanwhile, I'm off to attack my favourite, Mephisto and the Sunday Times Crosswords.