Crossword News November 2021
The October Prize Puzzle was Masterpiece by Craft. Unclued
entries gave the name of the artist, Barnett Newman, and the location of the
work, the National Gallery of Canada. The work is Voice of Fire, It consists of
three equally sized vertical stripes, the outside stripes are blue and the
centre red. A full solution is available at https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2021/11/solution-to-masterpiece-by-craft.html
Here are some of the comments from solvers.
This was a very quick grid fill (no extra letters in clues
etc.) and then I needed the internet to find the work in question. It was interesting to learn about a painting
hitherto unknown to me - but very suitable for a crossword! Thanks Craft for an entertaining puzzle.
This was an enjoyable solve with a theme new to me. I found
that parsing of some clues was tricky and there are still a couple I'm not sure
I fully understand. [I wonder if 16a should be 'suits'?] Thanks to the Crossword Centre and Craft (whose
puzzle in the current Magpie was a testing workout!).
Having solved about 20 clues, BA..ET. and NE.M.. were
revealed and art studies paid off – Newman’s Zip paintings being ideal for
straightforward colouring of crosswords.
N.TION.. and C.N.DA had also appeared by then and Voices of Fire
followed quickly. Hopefully not many
solvers will know about Newman, and not just so they can enjoy all of Craft’s
clues (“shell suit” and “prime locations” and “neck back” were very neat). Newman’s paintings don’t elevate the spirit
like Rothko’s colour-field works (and he was rather a one-trick pony) yet he
had a high opinion of himself. Harold
Rosenberg, the notable art critic, asked what Newman’s art could possibly mean
to the world, Newman: “My answer is that if he [Rosenberg] and others could
read it properly it would mean the end of all state capitalism and
totalitarianism.” Many thanks to Craft
We didn’t get the record entry but 62 was a good number.
However, there were 18 entries marked wrong. The main stumbling block was
MAFIOSI for MAFIOSO. Mafiosi is plural
(the definition was singular) and the wordplay includes MO for Missouri, MI is
Michigan.
The lucky winner, picked from the electronic hat was Daniel
Brewer from Portsmouth who will be receiving a copy of Chambers Crossword
Dictionary, which was donated by Chambers.
You still have lots of time to email your solution to the
November puzzle, A
Good One by Hawk.
For December we are offering three crosswords. The
Prize Puzzle will be the traditional Seasons Greetings by Eclogue, now in its
13th edition. The December Special will be Ring Cycle by
Hedge-sparrow and there will also be a bonus from Artix, What’s it Look Like?
All three December puzzles will count for annual
statistics and the competition for the Crowther Cup.
ARTIX is originally from Cheshire but has lived in Geneva
for the last 35 years where he runs a small independent portfolio management
company. He has had over 70 puzzles published under this pseudonym over the
last 10 years, including in the Magpie, Sunday Telegraph (EV and Toughie), i
(Inquisitor) and the Times (Listener where he has twice been runner-up in the
Ascot Gold Cup); he also has set jointly as part of Rasputin, Nudnix, OTTIX,
S.M.E.R.S.H., Charismatix, Botox and Jixaur. As a solver, Artix reached the
Times National Finals in 2011 and was awarded the Listener Solver Silver Salver
in 2018.
***
It was very sad to note the death of Anne Bradford, the crossword genius and
author of the Crossword Solver’s Dictionary. It was announced in The Times.
BRADFORD Anne Rae (née Freeman) died peacefully on 30th
October 2021, aged 90. After a short stay in hospital, the celebrated author of
the Bradford’s Crossword Solvers Dictionary passed away peacefully days short
of her 91st birthday. She continued working on crosswords to the end. Much
loved and sadly missed by family and friends. Any donations to North London
Hospice.
The Times followed up with a full obituary. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/anne-bradford-obituary-cpzndbwb2
Alan Connor wrote about her in the Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/crossword-blog/2021/nov/08/crossword-blog-anne-r-bradford
Although I never met Anne Bradford, we did have a friendly
correspondence, her letters always hand-written on personalised cream paper. We
did have much in common. She had a love of the north-east of England and had
family who lived in the same suburb of Gateshead where I was brought up. Her
genius will live on in her invaluable dictionary.
***
It’s that time of the year when I remind you to buy your 3D crosswords calendar
for 2022. A calendar with 12 3D crosswords, composed by 12 of the best setters,
and a chance to enter the 3D
world championship. You can order a printed copy or download a virtual one at
this link - https://3dcalendarpuzzles.co.uk/shop/
***
Although I am steering clear of TikTok, it has come to my notice that in the
USA, Katie Grogg has built up a community of crossword solvers. Her site,
Coffee and Crosswords, is her explaining the clues of the New York Times
Crossword. Read more here - https://www.polygon.com/22761463/crossword-puzzle-tiktok-katie-grogg
***
John and Jane have announced the date of next year’s Listener Crossword Dinner.
It will be held in the Scottish city of Stirling on Saturday 26 March. Further
details will be issued shortly.
***
On the Clue-writing Competition the results of the September challenge are
published. A normal clue to CICERONE and the winner was Tom Borland with this.
Expert
guide deployed on recce round island
Your challenge for NOVEMBER is a STANDARD CRYPTIC clue to
SOUSAPHONE (10) by the closing date of MIDNIGHT GMT SUNDAY 28th NOVEMBER. http://www.andlit.org.uk/cccwc/main.php
***
There is a lovely story in the Hampstead and Highgate Express as an obituary to
Bernard Marks. He was addicted to the Ham & High crossword and always
entered the competitions. Read the whole story here - https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/obituaries/bernard-marks-the-crossword-wizz-8455778
Best wishes
Derek
