Stats -We had a muted response to “Peace” and there were only 20 submissions for this puzzle. Of those who submitted 14 got the full grid score of 24. The maximum possible score for the contest was 27 points (24+3 bonus points) and 11 people managed to score that. Here’s the Solution grid.
The following questions were asked at the end of the puzzle..
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- Sort of struggle that worried those crossing the centre(4)
- Flanders flower this guy’s never forgotten (5)
- Which book is referred to in the description?(3,5,2,3,7,5).
The decription was “What’s left is to provide an alternative remarkably relevant title (3,5,2,3,7,5) … and (2,6,6,5) … vielleicht!
These cryptic instructions point to the title of a well known book and it’s translation, that are linked to the puzzle as well as some unique aspect of it. Be on the look-out to answer the questions at the end.
The correct answers to these were
(1) EPIC – which is an anagram of the puzzle’s four central horizontal letters
(2) The POPPY which is the symbol of remembrance and it’s known as the Flanders poppy. It is also, of course, the equivalent of Daddy.
(3) “All quiet on the Western Front”. P = Piano = Quiet. All Across entries and also the ones along the left side border (All that’s lefft..), start with a P = Quiet. This is the English translation of “IM WESTEN NICHTS NEUES” by Erich Maria Remarque. The book was more propular in English than German, selling over 2.5 Million copies in the first 18 months.
Here are the Annotations.
Across
7 Far from silent tear all conscripted offered on return for sturdy support (6) – ALL<, in RIP<
8 Weapon gutted fish from France revealed (6) – (POI(-S)SON)<
9 Dodge youngster first used to see body in Ramallah shortly before (4) – PLO + Y
10 I should leave, freezing cold, the Yankee general indicated (8) – PER (-I) SHING
11 Almost the main assassin in 1914 attack (7) – PRINCIP (-AL)
13 Idiot needs energy for superfluous talk (5) – PRAT + E
15 Uncomfortably dry, soft part of foot (5) – P + ARCH
17 Qatar or Pakistan both offer a fair return for shares (3,4) – T
20 Confused police quickly dash about for a time (8) – POLICE*+EN<<
21 Not even Plebean backing for striker (4) – N(a)E(b)E(l)P< (Peen = hammer = striker),
22 Reviewing rate in short addendum, would cause fireworks, Bill saw (6) – (P (RATE)* S);
23 Rajput scholar described coup d’état (6) – T
Down
1 Cancer, say, is piteously like a piece of landmine lodged inside, right? (6) = LIKE*<<L+R
2 Butcher may also display rejects (4) – Rev T
3 Vividly described by girl’s notoriously rich Pa (7) – G+RICHPA*
4 Kindle an electrician’s given (5) – DD
5 Flustered one, in confusion tried hugging Diana, say (8) – TRIED*<>SIN<<
6 Crown gives up ring for Armstrong’s instrument (6) – CORONET – O
12 Saint of Bari, looking back: ‘Immorality overshadowed South Indian Dynasty’ (8) – NI (CHOLA) S<<
14 Soft temper could be appropriate (3-4) – (P (TEMPER))*
16 Pretty much everybody commits perjury to get at partners (6) – AL (-L) LIES
18 Ditch jerk leaving wife for model (6) – (-w) (+T) RENCH
19 Skip some vowels haphazardly (5) – T
21 Leads with peace in the heart’s depth (4) – Acrostic
Here is the scorecard (sorted by total score and then in the order of submissions received)
Congrats to Viresh Ratnakar who was the first to submit, among the 11 people who had the maximum score of 27. Also congrats to the others who got the top score.
10 people rated the puzzle as “Excellent”, 7 rated it “Good” and 3 rated it “Average”. Thanks to “Bud” (Brian) and “Mona” for a thoroughly entertaining puzzle, which commemorated the centenary of the “Remembrance day”, which was yesterday, the 11th of November.
Did you enjoy the puzzle? Do you have any feedback for us or for the setters. Do comment in the blog and let us know.