Good fun, quick fill. One or two trickier parsings.
Got the theme early on with help of 7d and the title. Also “initials” in the preamble cuts down the list of possibilities. I was pleased to be reintroduced to the work though.
The thematic quote extends, I believe, to part of the second line.
Neat construction with so much theme and yet avoiding obscurities.
Thanks to Fire.