ChatterBank1 min ago
Listener No 4417: Hms Arcady By Hedge-Sparrow
16 Answers
A lucky identification after half a dozen letters of the poet and I was off to a good start as I learned the poem at school, and these things never leave you! As Hedge-sparrow has crammed such a mass of thematic material into the grid the fill was fairly easy from then on. I liked the playing with the six down clues -- and the spelling I would have used for the thematic word was not that in the BRB. Many thanks, Hedge-sparrow, that was fun.
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.Never heard of the poem (obviously didn't go to a posh enough school!), but early spot of the poet led me straight there and that made for a lot of very simple grid-filling. I'm not sure the thematic word was strictly necessary as it merely adds a faint touch of ambiguity but I'm hoping I have the right one. Marvellous to pack all of the thematic stuff in there, another fine contribution from Hedge-sparrow.
I had much the same experience as AHearer - the theme identified itself quickly after which it was all over bar the solving. I enjoyed finding the thematic words in the special clues even though it wasn't necessary. Perhaps the puzzle would have been harder if the poet came after the title in the letters from the across clues? Not that I'll ever complain about a gentle and very enjoyable solve.
Thanks Hedge-Sparrow!
Thanks Hedge-Sparrow!
An enjoyable puzzle, but, as others have noted, the puzzle yields very quickly once the theme emerges - in my case after seven across clues solved and enough downs to reveal what had to be the thematic entry in row 2.
Although it wasn't necessary to solve the thematic clues (a defect in my view) I did after completing the grid. They are actually very good and paired very nicely. I think I would have struggled to cold-solve some. Even knowing the answers it took me a while to work out which clue led to which answer.
The thematic symmetry of the grid is a very neat accomplishment.
Although it wasn't necessary to solve the thematic clues (a defect in my view) I did after completing the grid. They are actually very good and paired very nicely. I think I would have struggled to cold-solve some. Even knowing the answers it took me a while to work out which clue led to which answer.
The thematic symmetry of the grid is a very neat accomplishment.