2125: Nil desperandum

‘1/5/28’ (five words in total) is part of a quotation in ODQ and suggests how to find the common element in the remaining unclued lights (41 is in Collins). The author’s surname (6) will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded.
 

Across

Most popular

Alexander Larman

Beware the middle of Lidl

 
9    Fling blue ring away (3)
11    Vase containing curious coin depicting mythical beast (7)
12    Fruit’s core in wooden dish (6)
13    Thrilling effect of flaky lemon tart (9)
14    Bacon sons eat sparingly (5)
16    Child cheers about seventy rabbits and songbirds (5)
19    I separate and remove lively lion always bounding (7)
21    Blue article with quality rolled gold (4)
24    Commander pressing uniform by famous dressmaker (4)
25    Hill of mud and sand dunes finish off military force (7)
31    Bridge system in area bordering mountain pass (4)
32    Worker fixed blower (7)
34    Young lover rejects European pop music (4)
37    University starts to list numerous aged bones (5)
40    Water trails around in zigzag river (5)
42    Pinhead (not I) chewed up poisonous shrub (6)
43    Invariably toiling, Val dropped dish (7)
44    Character the reverse of trendy (3)
45    Bill swears about form of patronage (8)
 

Down

 
2    Turbulent one absolutely loses head (6)
3    Peter out with sound Spaniard? (5)
6    Give preliminary payment to cycling aristo (4)
7    Auctioneers shifting hansom cab finally (7)
8    Craving drink for some years … (7)
9    … ruler supports dubious local (9, hyphened)
10    Restoration of linen slit about (7)
15    Having a certain style in White City (5, hyphened)
17    Associate talked about gloomier girlfriend (7)
18    Colloid grannie treated with care (11)
20    What dyers do to dress for English weather (7)
22    Linguistic unit in every sacred syllable Orpheus thrice clipped (9)
26    High tea revolting? Finish your food! (5, two words)
27    Hawkeye State caught by record masses of lava (7)
29    Without question coq au vin flops without a...