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In view of all the mistakes we've been encountering recently in the Times2 crosswords, I thought you might be interested in one I came across today in the Times2 Jumbo Gen. Know. book 7.
Clue: Fictional baron giving name to a mental disorder (11)
The answer (and I checked through various of my medical textbooks to make sure) should have been MUNCHAUSEN (only 10 letters) The answer given was spelt MUNCHHAUSEN. I had the devil of a job solving the crossword until I realised that everything was thrown out of kilter by the misspelling!

Hi elle
Look at this Wikipedia entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baron_M%C3%BCnchhausen

Interesting, Chris!
because check this out:

Münchausen syndrome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Münchausen_syndrome‎

Münchausen syndrome is a psychiatric factitious disorder wherein those affected feign disease, illness, or psychological trauma to draw attention, sympathy,......

Who / what to believe?!

but our med textboks do spell it with one 'h'!

I have actually read Richard Asher's book, surprisingly. (My wife, who is a doctor, gave it to me for interest - it is very readable. I recommend it!.)

It seems that the fictional(ised) character is spelled Munchausen, while the original, real, person was called Munchhausen.

I looked it up as I had a vague memory of having seen both spellings before. Asher seems to have picked the fictional version (understandably) for his syndrome.

Thanks for that info. (My husband and I are Biomedical Scientists, specialising in Hamatology.)
However, based on what you said about the fictional character being spelt with only one 'h' - then the answer to the clue is still wrong, isn't it? as the clue does specify "fictional baron".

Yes, I think you are right there, elle.

It is well worth getting hold of the Asher book. Quite apart from Munchausen's syndrome, "ruptured plantaris syndrome" is interesting, and "hydropneumothorax" is hilarious!

It seems wherever you look you get a different approach to this...


http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Fictitious+Illness

I will try to get a copy of the book - thanks for the recommendation! Have a good evening!

And you elle!

(Looking forward to mine - out for a curry, then back to watch Wales v. France!)

I should have asked you for the title of the book that you recommend by Richard Asher about
Munch(h)ausen? I see that he's written quite a few books, not to mention medical articles in The Lancet.
And BTW, are you Welsh, then?