July 2025 Prize Puzzle - Dame by Skylark

 Dame by Skylark

An extra letter in each clue should be removed before solving, which in the order given, spells out instructions for solvers.

Reading clockwise from the top left corner, the unclued border contains three works by the subject. It may be completed using the letters in: JEE, HYPE IS ASININE.

The Chambers Dictionary (2016) is the primary reference.

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Across

9 Pass Indian tea again, skipping daughter (6)

10 Unhappy tramps beginning to hook fish (4)

11 Pete's conservative avoiding spice (4)

12 Southern inn reportedly hides dances (6)

14 Dry dropping dated amateur song (4) 

15 Rodent's fare I drag back (5)

16 Returning plunder, coast place for storing utensils (8, 2 words)

17 Regularly envoy lauds Roman name (5)

18 Narked, gently push German leaving (4)  

20 Drunk lamed sane sailor (8)

22 Ed's drawn Macbeth's dread hiding evil (7) 

26 Dull lover's form of dominoes (8)

28 Picture spoilt in centre by prisoner (4)

29 Select group's manager finally rested: ecstasy! (5)

31 Note Stokes blocking fast endures to the end (8, 2 words)

33 Francis entering permits sides (5)

35 Change Cuban wood (4)

36 Pace case regarding church vestibule (6)

37 Friend's oddly agile hiding shame ultimately (4) 

38 European shortened elderly nutter's uniform (4)

39 Heads second failure, accepting none backsliding (6)

Down

1 Tense avoiding stair, almost awaken fragrant (7) 

2 Will's husked nut, lord's covering top of meat (7)

3 Legal ease regularly protecting every roof's edges (5)

4 Told card game's shut (4)

5 Three sons walk in Paris (6)

6 Ring chief about new planet (8) 

7 Made of loose threads for locals, then? Strange (7)

8 Hurry Hess halving extreme dislike (5)

13 Litter's hidden by Jessie dancing (5)

19 Support cycle crossing top of gentry's street (8)

21 Suppresses special sherry-infused dessert, shun cut recipe (7)

23 Bald Carlos dismisses cold garret (5)

24 Fair accepting contralto for tenor's musical accompaniment (7) 

25 Grand topless accommodation's stirring (7)

27 Wandering about in countryside, chanting and grazing (6)

30 Quit acting, interrupting guests, shortly (5)

32 Married loiter forgetting rector's aims (5)

34 Scottish town supporting priest is suffering (4)

Entries

To enter this competition, input your solution into the website at https://cc.vellender.com before 8th August 2025. The first correct entry drawn from the hat will receive a book from the Chambers range, which has been donated by Chambers.