The Atlantic Puzzler

The eight unclued entries are related. Clue answers include nine proper nouns; 29A is uncommon. Punctuation may be used deceptively.

By Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

FIGURES OF SPEECH

The solution to last month’s Puzzler appears on page 109.

ACROSS

1.“Figures of Speech” cryptic has top poser (11)

9. River in Kenya, this (4)

11. Gun loaded by one poet (5)

12. Hot atoll? (7)

13. Unusual request to a restaurant cook (4)

14. Cavity back of tooth’s core (4)

16.Sailor and journalist sacked? (4)

20. Noblemen mismanaged Athens (6)

22. Snowman still standing on the 4th of April (4)

24.African or English land (4)

26. Industrial waste left in sink (4)

27. Car traveling around city back in Italian province (7)

29. Upbeat, as is about right (5)

30. Offense by a Russian region (6)

31. Fictional character who has Eliot’s initials? (4)

32. King’s accessories—groups of mobsters (7)

DOWN

1. Quickness brings one new clarity (8)

2. Greek badge on patriotic group (6)

3. Notes written from scratch? (5)

4. Music in honor of me and Frank— uplifting (8) (two words)

5. Start where a TV show is filmed? (5)

6. A town is located in the Keystone State (4)

7. Place for Topper’s canned laughter? (7)

8. Fancy climb to the top of Everest? (5)

10. Gold turned up in yonder passage (6)

15.Announced engagement with chief prelate (8)

17. Alien blamed for wild uproar (6)

18. Spiritual theory in Siam converted 1000 (7)

19. Cola spilled in California sewer (6) 21. Quarry outside of the cell (6)

23. Eric the Red marginally wandered (5)

25. Change Norse bills (5)

26. Tire-flattener in southern road (5)

28. Capital city of Czechoslovakia (4)

Note: The instructions above are for this month’s puzzle only. It is assumed that you know how to decipher clues. For a complete introduction to clue-solving, write to The Atlantic Reprint Department, 8 Arlington Street, Boston. Mass. 02116, enclosing a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Answers to the April Puzzler, “CARTE BLANCHE”

Across. a. DRY (double def.) b. TIME-PIECE (pun) c. REAM (double def.) d. LO(ND)ON e. A(CROP)-OLIS (silo rev.) f. FOREST-ALL g. SPATS (double def.) h.GO-A-LIE i.G(ARM)ENT j. GANDERS (anag.) k. B(R)EECH l. EATEN(hidden) m. BEN(GALES)E (been anag.) n. ALERTNESS (anag.) o. NAV(I)ES p. MEET (double def.) q. S(LAND)ERED (reeds anag.) r. (brie)FLY Down. a. DRAWS (rev.) b. RECAP (rev.) c. DRAY (rev.) d. IM-POSE e. MOO-RING f. POI-SON g. INSTAR (anag.) h. COLLIE-R i. EN(D)LESS (anag. + D) j. P(ALL)ET k. AR(DEN)T l. GIBBONS (anag.) m. A-D-RENAL (learn anag.) n. TAPER-ER o. R(EG)AIN p. SCALED (double def.) q. NESTLE (hidden) r. EASEL (anag.) S. N(A-ST)Y t. BEE-F