Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

A couple of question at the more mundane end of your spectrum: sorry.

I can’t understand what 33 is; one of five or not? It seems to me likely to be, but would require an extra letter not in the name (and not checked like the others).

Also, I have an unfinished grid at 6a with which I’d like help please.

Yes, 33 is one of five. It parses 2+2 - "Scottish beloved one" + "has nerves initially".

6a. Def. is 1st word; wordplay is 2 (assigned to) + 3 (festival) + 3 (education, with the extra letter)

Thanks Will.

A) ‘one’ initially had me confused
B) guessed that, but without the hyphen my search was fruitless.

Another strange Listener - looked impenetrable at a glance (ie failing to solve any across clue on first read) but had another look yesterday, got a start in the NE corner, and filled the grid in a few hours.

Found the three word name today, realised I hadn't got correct letters for the author's name, then found the connection between the five words. Still puzzling over the 18 letter phrase, can't see anything yet.

Apart from a school subject that connects the two themes I can't see how the named person relates to anything beyond a curve, so the phrase remains inscrutable.

pebble, your school subject is probably right. The author and words (and title) refer to some things which hint at what kind of curve you want. What’s another name for that curve? I found the phrase by looking for the curve and seeing if I could make words emerge.

Thanks mooncow, I see it now.

I was looking at three plausible 18-letter phrases I found in quotes from the work, or a phrase associated with it. Slightly underwhelmed by the way the two themes are brought together, but hey ho.