Listener 4523: A Tale Of Two Cities By Wan

[Hagen]

A skilful implementation of a delightful theme. I found the clues incredibly tough, especially where clashes were involved, and spent almost as long getting the last few answers as I did on the rest of the puzzle. What started out as sheer enjoyment ended up becoming frustratingly hard work, but that doesn't detract from this being an excellent Listener in every respect.

[kdgs2]

Much the same here - I must have spent two hours on the last two intersecting clues, even though I had half the letters and knew what the clash resolved to! The rest was good enough though to make me want to persevere. Good to see Wan back after an absence last year, his/her puzzles always seem to have a lot to get one's teeth into.

[Scorpius]

The clashes certainly made things tough in one area of the grid, and I spent a long time solving my last four clues. As Hagen says, a delightful theme that was unfamiliar to me.

Wan's puzzles are invariably tough, but there's always lots to enjoy en route, and perseverance is always amply rewarded at the end.

There were some lovely clues, 16 being my favourite - had me fooled until the very end.

[Encota]

Bloomin' 'eck that was tricky! A real challenge - many thanks Wan!

[tnap]

Just back off me hols, so catching up with Listeners. Thankfully last week's was a lot easier. Like others, I struggled with the last few clashes, but with a clear head this morning everything fell beautifully into place. Thanks Wan.

[Flocker14]

I return to this forum simply because I wouldn't like the setter to think that no one appreciated his/her work - an absolute tour de force which provided hours (too many in my case) of entertainment. A superb Listener - many thanks!
By the way, Hagen asked a few weeks ago why so few people contribute here these days. One reason is that several people have rightly had enough of being subjected to crude, and sometimes downright unpleasant, attempts at irony at their expense - something that has no place in what used to be a forum for an interesting exchange of ideas.
In future, I'll be contributing any time I feel like it on any subject that pleases me. So what certain smart Alecks can do with their sharpened pencils is their business.

[upsetter]

A real struggle this week and despite and early PDM we did not see the full elegance until the final clue manipulation was solved.
An excellent piece of construction - thanks Wan.

[sunny-dave]

What a cracker - I've done the last four Listeners over this week (catch-up after holiday) and this was a fitting finale - very clever, very fair and a real delight all the way through some excellent clues.

Thanks Wan.

[olichant]

I thought this was tough and stunning. Lovely theme, really clever implementation, some really top quality clues. Thanks, Wan. A really enjoyable way to spend (more than) a few hours.

[s_pugh]

This was one of the toughest in a while. Very tricky clues and grid, but ultimately fair. Yet another fantastic puzzle - 2018 is turning into quite a vintage. Many thanks Wan, excellent work.

[starwalker]

It has all been said ! Thanks Wan.

[Philoctetes]

Good to see my area of expertise in use - not that it helped. Stuffed full of thematic material. And I loved the treatment of the interloper.

[emcee]

Emcee in mourning didn't detract from appreciating such a fine construction, packed with thematic material. One of the best Listener setters -- thank you, Wan.

[olichant]

Emcee, that sounds tough; I hope you are ok.

I agree that Wan is one of the best setters we are lucky to have - and with the comment above that this has been a really good year.

[emcee]

Hi Olichant,

Many thanks for your comment. Things are OK but I'm going through a major period of readjustment following the death of my mother -- I nursed her for the last two years so now it's all a bit strange not having her around!

Kind regards,

emcee.

[KnightofFaith]

Hi Emcee. I haven't contributed to this forum for many years, and am not normally tempted to. I live on another forum now. But I would like to pass my condolences to you. And please do not read any meaning into my normal forum name other than it is something to identify me by (Meursault, and yes I do know what day my mother died).

[emcee]

That's very kind, Meursault. Thank you.

Kind regards,
emcee.

[NickorWan]

I am very sorry to hear of your loss, Emcee, please accept my condolences.



Thank you all for your very kind comments; they mean everything to me.

Best to all.
Wan

[Scree]

Just to add my appreciation of a tough but ultimately rewarding puzzle. Had I not managed to tease out the last few clues or finally spot the second city, I might be less in favour!
We had a family reunion in Muncaster 5-12 Oct (lovely walk up Black Combe on the glorious sunny Wednesday), so I started to tackle this on the train back. I knew I only needed to change at Barrow and Manchester for Nottingham but I'd got on an earlier train than scheduled. Deep in Listener thought, I heard a muffled announcement as we reached Preston, but only after we left heading the other way and a clearer announcement mentioned Keswick did I realise I should have changed trains!
Luckily Lancaster was only 15 minutes away and I ended up on the train from Manchester where I had a reserved seat, so no harm done.
I was so pleased with finishing the puzzle on Monday that I convinced myself I still had a week to post it. Realised after 5 pm today, so probably posted too late. Doh!
Can't resolve wordplay for 17 and 26A, but answers are clear enough.