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No problem, I wouldn't usually be so explicit with an assist but hey it's Christmas! So Merry Christmas to all cruciverbalists and roll on January and the restoration of normality ....

I'm in the blank grid camp on this one. I think there is the problem of what defines a note - does that include re for example in RENDS? Also the preamble states that all entries must be altered but you can't amend BOVRIL.

I share your sentiments and I'm unsure about the instruction. If we go along with 'erase............... in c.... p....' literally, we would leave only the letters - notes - A, C, E, G, which form a relevant word, or is that just a coincidence?

Hi Eichoernchen, now that I've sobered up a bit, I'll re-enter the debate...I think Notrab and Unclued have made an argument against leaving behind A,C,E,G : though to my mind Bovril would be completely erased and therefore not a contradiction to the preamble, which states that all 40 entries should be altered. The first across clue (Ace) would be unaltered and therefore a contradiction.

In terms of judging such an entry, perhaps the key word of the instruction is the word 'Erase'. For this to be carried out, there must have been something previously entered. After erasing, presumably traces remain and so the entry may be distinguished from a blank grid.

Apologies to Cockie if my earlier contributions were more than usually brusque !

As the messages were in clue order (not the listed order) solvers would have to entered the answers in the grid first to get the messages. Therefore they have proved that they have solved all the answers - unless they look here instead!

As ever thanks Mersault - we enjoyed a visit to the pub earlier this year and I have also been at the Vodka (Grey Goose) this Xmas. I was happy that you could allow Bovril but then your comment on ACE rather destroys the possibility of deleting CAGE. I think this leaves only complete deletion. I accept that this is justifiable and without access this forum proves you have solved all clues. Looking forward to further helpful and amusing exchanges with you in 2017. Cheers!!

Should read deleting all except CAGE - that Vodka is rather too strong!

Meursault, when an instruction asks for material to be erased I have never submitted a grid with traces of the original letters because I don't submit my working grid. I have never been marked wrong for this. I cannot imagine John Green would bother straining to see if an erased letter were originally an E or F, for example.

There is a precedent for a blank grid
http://www.listenercrossword.com/Years/Puzzles/L3/L33/L3309.html
not that I'm taking that view in this case (yet).

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.
Only started this last night but finished quite quickly. I'm of the opinion that the instruction shouldn't be read literally, but that it refers to the notes in either of the two works, i.e. CDEF. This then alters every entry including the unclued ones, unlike the CAGE version.
Can anyone help with the wordplay for "overtures....... Got the answer but don't understand the clue, not that it matters.
Happy New Year to everyone.