I can't work out the long clue - have tried all day. 24, 19, 23, 10, 1d Leonardo's work - his highest - matches Hitchens's extravaganza (2, on 16, 15 which is 'Pater' on 'Mona Lisa' I think) (3,2,5,4,3,5,5,5,3,4) I have ?h?c? s?? ?i?s for the last three words.
Many thanks Kayakamina. No other posts appeared when I put my request on so didn't see this. Sorry for delay in thanking you - putting up the tree. Husband and I now feeling decidedly festive!
the word third from last might be which, and the word before might be among, as is among which, because hitchens is such an atheist the word god might be in it somewhere too, 3 down is road map, 8 down is rough and ready and five down is region I think