The Spectator 1897

[Matakari]

Can someone tell me now if I am on the right track? I do not yet see the theme... Are these correct?

16 Ac : HENRY
38Ac: CYRIL
41Ac: ENDEAVOUR

5Dn: ISFAHAN
6Dn: PEAKING

And how am I doing with the following lights?

ACROSS
11. A ?AS?E?O?
17. BLA?KOI
34. ?FALA??

DOWN
23. ?A???I?S
29. P??L?VS
35.?E?OH

Any hints will be quite welcomed. Thanks.

[dr b]

41a is incorrect. Think "will" as in last will and testament

[dr b]

note that 17a is only 5 letters BLA?K (bet you can fill in the 4th from there)

[dr b]

29d should be P??L?IS
35d is ?E?TH

[copelander]

41a isn't right. 16a,38a,5d and 6d are fine

[Minoru]

The theme is Henry James, Cyril James and Phyllis James (P D James) with a book title which each has written

[dr b]

as a final hint the unclued lights are all authors and their works (pretty obvious from the preamble); all the authors share the same last name.

[dr b]

which, as Minoru points out, is JAMES! So much for subtlety.

[shaneystar2]

35 d is incorrect
29d is incorrect
You have to look for the Common Factor
These are authors. Their first names appear .
Their surname is the common factor . It is James and the other unclued lights are books they have written . .

[Matakari]

I have seen the light now ,thanks to your ready help, dr b, copelander, minoru and shaneystar2. Everything has fallen into place so neatly! I am getting the hang of the Spectator puzzle which is quite different from most! Thanks again for your elightenment!