DT 30731 (full review)

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30731

A full review by Rahmat Ali

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

This puzzle was published on 28^th September 2024

BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****

Greetings from Kolkata. A lovely, straightforward Saturday puzzle from NYDK that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback.

Priam, the answer to the clue of 25d, took me down memory lane when I was nine years old and studying in Class IV at Joseph Day School. I read about King Priam of Troy, his son Hector and Achilles the enemy of his son in a history book called ‘The March of Time’. I remember in that book a black and white picture showing Achilles chasing Hector around the gates of Troy in order the avenge the death of his friend. I could also reminisce that Achilles finally kills Hector. In the book, there was also another black and white picture in which King Priam is seen begging Achilles for the dead body of his son Hector. I was deeply moved by the picture and had pity upon King Priam. So, this time, I turned nostalgic and took to the net to know more about the event in detail. Hector is the first-born son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba. He brings glory to the Trojans throughout the Trojan War. He is known to all people as the best fighter except the Achaeans, who not only fear him as the best warrior from the Trojan side, but also hate him. When Hector kills Patroclus, a friend of Achilles, the latter enters the war once more so that he could avenge his friend’s death. Hector wants to resolve the altercation without bloodshed which Achilles refuses. He chases Hector around the gates of Troy three times. Hector proposes that whoever wins, be it him or Achilles, will be respectful to the other’s body and give it back so that there can be a proper burial. Achilles refuses yet again. After a short fight, Achilles stabs Hector in the throat, which results in his death. After slaying him, Achilles strips Hector of his armour. The other Achaeans then gather to look upon and stab Hector’s body. Achilles says a few words in victory and ties Hector’s body by the heels to his chariot. He drags the body around the city of Troy, as the Trojans watch from the walls and lament, especially Andromache, Hector’s wife. During and after Patroclus’ funeral, Achilles drags Hector’s body around his pyre. However, the gods Aphrodite and Apollo protect his body from the dogs, disfigurement and decomposition. Twelve days elapse before King Priam goes to Achilles to ransom his son’s body.

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.

Across

1a          South American greeting Asian dish (5)
SUSHI: A charade of S (South) as the abbreviation for South, US (American) as adjectival abbreviation for the United States or belonging to the United States and HI (greeting) as an interjection used as a friendly greeting leads to the definition of a dish consisting of small balls or rolls of vinegar-flavoured cold rice served with a garnish of vegetables, egg or raw seafood from Japan that is in Asia

4a          Tummy trouble in dreadful days without drink (9)
DYSPEPSIA: The definition of indigestion or stomach upset that is a feeling of burning, pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen is arrived at from an anagram (dreadful) of DAYS placed around (without) PEPSI (drink) as a carbonated drink flavoured with extract from kola nuts

9a          Friend friendly in 27 20 as locally known? (4,5)
ALLY PALLY: A charade of ALLY (friend) as a partner, friend or confederate and PALLY (friendly) as an adjective meaning friendly or chummy takes to the definition of the often referred-to name of Alexandra Palace that is an entertainment and sports venue in North London, situated between Wood Green and Muswell Hill in the London Borough of Haringey

10a        Push hard to stop Stateside lawyer in crisis (5)
DRAMA: RAM (push hard) as to roughly force something into place to intervene by getting inside (stop) DA (Stateside lawyer) as the abbreviation for District Attorney who is a lawyer in the United States working for a city, state or federal government and putting on trial people who are accused of crimes guides to the definition of a noun meaning histrionics, turmoil or crisis

11a        Legendary female chosen by sun-god (7)
ELECTRA: The definition of the legendary character from Greek mythology who was the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra and who incited her brother Orestes to kill Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus is reached from a charade of ELECT (chosen) as an adjective meaning chosen or singled out to hold public office or some other position by voting, especially of a person having alongside (by) RA (sun-god) as the Egyptian sun-god

12a        No vintage wine in this Welsh city? (7)
NEWPORT: A charade of NEW (no vintage) as produced, introduced or discovered recently or now for the first time and PORT (wine) as a red or tawny fortified wine directs to the definition of a city and county borough in Wales, situated on the River Usk close to its confluence with the Severn Estuary, 12 miles northeast of Cardiff

13a        Arab for example keeping a husky (6)
HOARSE: HORSE (Arab for example) as a large four-legged animal, an example of which is Arab that is a horse of native Arabian breed popular for its grace having inside (keeping) A from the clue takes to the definition of an adjective meaning rough and husky

15a        Bank where Shapps invests cash in chips? (8)
GRADIENT: The definition of a noun meaning slope, incline or bank is arrived at from GRANT (Shapps) as the forename of a British politician who served as the Secretary of State for Defence from August 2023 to July 2024 that covers completely (invests) DIE (cash in chips) as to cease existing or become extinct, an example of which is to cash in one’s chips that is a slang term meaning to pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

18a        Triumphant as military displays spirit (8)
PHANTASM: Part of or hidden inside (displays) [TRIUM]PHANT AS M[ILITARY] leads to the definition of an illusion, apparition, ghost or spirit

20a        See 27 Across

23a        Wild picnic involving posh composer (7)
PUCCINI: An anagram (wild) of PICNIC taking in (involving) U (posh) as a colloquial adjective meaning as used by or found among the upper social classes takes to the definition of an Italian composer known primarily for his operas whose full name was Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini

24a        Tom penning article is showing discomfort (7)
MALAISE: MALE (Tom) as referring to a guy, dude, boy or man or any animal opposite of the female sex, an example of which is Tom or the male of various animals confining inside (penning) a combo of A (article) as one of the indefinite articles and IS from the clue displays the definition of a general feeling of discomfort, illness or unease whose exact cause is difficult to identify

26a        Foolish sort in Djibouti periodically (5)
IDIOT: The definition of a foolish or stupid person is attained from the periodical or oddly-placed letters (periodically) of In DjIbOuTi

27a and 20 Across          Sandy region accommodating a London venue (9,6)
ALEXANDRA PALACE: ALEXANDRA (Sandy) is a female given name of Greek origin whose diminutive is Sandra, and the diminutive of Sandra in turn serves as the female version of Sandy that is a popular unisex given name and PLACE (region) as a particular position, area or region taking in (accommodating) A from the clue leads to the definition of an entertainment and sports venue in North London, situated between Wood Green and Muswell Hill in the London Borough of Haringey that was intended as ‘The People’s Palace’ and its purpose was to serve as a public centre of recreation, education and entertainment

28a        Moving house? (9)
MOTORHOME: A cryptic definition of a large motor vehicle designed as a home for people to live and sleep in when they are travelling or moving from one place to another

29a        Dog where dogs chase hare? (5)
TRACK: Double definition; the first being a verb meaning to follow or watch constantly or to keep another under surveillance by moving along behind and the second a noun referring to a prepared course or circuit for dogs such as greyhounds and other sighthounds to chase hare by sight and not by scent

Down

1d          Will this take us to Mars? Small steps with it! (9)
SPACESHIP: The definition of a spacecraft designed to carry a crew into interstellar space, an example of which is the planet Mars is attained from a charade of S (small) as the abbreviation for small, PACES (steps) as the plural of a step made in walking and HIP (with it) as an informal term for an adjective meaning informed about latest style, up-to-date or with it

2d          Only around five crack the clues (5)
SOLVE: SOLE (only) as an adjective meaning only, lone or solitary placed about (around) V (five) as the Roman numeral for five guides to the definition of a verb meaning to find a solution, explanation or answer or to crack the clues of a puzzle

3d          Drive bishop away from bumpiest ground (7)
IMPETUS: The definition of a noun meaning a drive or thrust is arrived at from an anagram (ground) of [B]UMPIEST from which B (bishop) as the abbreviation for bishop in chess notation has been removed or taken out (away)

4d          We’re told anguish makes Yankee ready (6)
DOLLAR: DOLOUR (anguish) as the poetic term for grief, anguish or sorrow serving as a homophone heard by the audience (we’re told) leads to the definition of the basic monetary unit of many countries, including the United States, an example of which is ‘ready’ referring to ready money or cash that a Yankee or an inhabitant or native of New England that is in the United States may be having in their possession

5d          Perhaps cricket side needs a run – a bye? (8)
SAYONARA: A combination of SAY (perhaps) as used to indicate that something is being suggested as possible or likely but not certain, ON (cricket side) as the on side in cricket on which the batsman stands normally the bowler’s right having alongside (needs) A from the clue, R (run) as the abbreviation for run or runs scored in cricket and A again from the clue takes to the definition of a Japanese interjection used to say goodbye or farewell

6d          Supplied with talent, finale outstanding (7)
ENDOWED: The definition of a verb in the past tense meaning equipped or supplied with a talent or quality is reached from a charade of END (finale) as climax, culmination or finale and OWED (outstanding) as an adjective meaning due, outstanding or payable

7d          Bar work? Could this involve the Rovers Return? (4,5)
SOAP OPERA: A charade of SOAP (bar) as a cleansing agent manufactured in the shape of a bar and OPERA (work) as an extended dramatic work in which the parts are sung to orchestral accompaniment leads to the definition of a serialised drama, usually dealing with domestic themes, characterised by sentimentality and broadcast on radio or television, an example of which could be the long-running British soap opera ‘Coronation Street’ in which there is a fictional inn or public house by the name ‘Rovers Return’

8d          Picasso initially divides a painting in sections (5)
APART: The initial or starting letter (initially) of P[ICASSO] gets in by segregating (divides) A from the clue and ART (painting) as a creative activity resulting, inter alia, in the production of paintings yields the definition of an adverb meaning in or into parts, pieces, divisions or sections

14d        Revolutionary Thracians thrashed (9)
ANARCHIST: The definition of a revolutionary, rebel or terrorist is reached from an anagram (thrashed) of THRACIANS

16d        MEP boarding rescue vessel in Disneyland? (5,4)
THEME PARK: MEP from the clue getting inside (boarding) THE ARK (rescue vessel) as the large floating vessel built by Noah to save his family and two of every kind of animal from the Flood takes to the definition of a large permanent area for public entertainment where people can go to enjoy rides, among a host of other activities, an example of which is the Disneyland that is situated at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California

17d        Old station broadcast repeated musical phrase (8)
OSTINATO: O (old) as the abbreviation for Old as OT in Old Testament followed by an anagram (broadcast) of STATION leads to the definition of a continuously reiterated musical phrase

19d        Talk excitedly having giggle about wife (7)
TWITTER: The definition of a verb meaning to talk lightly and rapidly, especially on trivial matters is arrived at from TITTER (giggle) as to giggle or laugh in a restrained, nervous way placed around (about) W (wife) as the genealogical abbreviation for wife

21d        In the end grasping English, if nothing else (2,5)
AT LEAST: AT LAST (in the end) as a phrase meaning finally or in the end taking in (grasping) E (English) as the abbreviation for English produces the definition of a phrase used to emphasise a somewhat positive aspect about or following a negative situation

22d        Obstruct little devil – paradise finally lost (6)
IMPEDE: The definition of a verb meaning to retard or obstruct the progress of someone or something is obtained from IMP (little devil) as a little devil or wicked spirit and EDE[N] (paradise) as a paradise or a delightful place, region or dwelling devoid of its final or last letter (finally lost)

23d        One in wheeled carriage brings dad to Paris (5)
PRIAM: I (one) as the Roman numeral for one placed inside (in) PRAM (wheeled carriage) as a four-wheeled carriage for a baby, pushed by a person on foot brings the definition of the legendary and last king of Troy during the Trojan War who was father to more than fifty children, one of whom was known by the name Paris

25d        Home help sent up country (5)
INDIA: IN (home) as at or inside one’s home followed by AID (help) as to help or assist raised (sent up) as a reversal in the down clue leads to the definition of a country in South Asia that is the seventh-largest country by area and now the most populous country in the world

Some of the clues that I liked in this puzzle were 4a, 9a, 15a, 27a&20a, 4d, 5d, 7d, 16d and 23d; 23d being the best of the lot. My prayers to the Almighty for the eternal rest and peace of BD and my thanks to NYDK for the entertainment and to Gazza for the assistance. Looking forward to being here again. Have a nice day.