Three unclued lights form a nine-word quotation from a thematic work. Remaining unclued lights, including one hyphened, are five trios of words of a kind, each suggested by a thematic word from the same work. Three further thematic words need highlighting in the completed grid.
Across
17 Sports day around squad’s compound (7)
18 Commander seizes money, making nasal sound (4)
20 Secretion without difficulty in tropical trees (6)
21 The same papers this person returned (4)
22 Greek maiden sees chemical bases (7)
23 Turn around in Chinese hut (5)
24 Two places to save patriarch (5)
27 Troops manage show again (5)
28 Bring back green bit of ground for feline (6)
29 Band zig-zag around US road (7)
30 Slate a style of music (5)
32 Complaint about blocking in the French drain (8)
34 Part of shell is fairy’s, as far as I’m concerned (9)
38 Stick with modish present (6)
40 Prepare miners for war, in depression (6)
43 Date to leave northern city’s worst parts (4)
45 Overheard smaller Frenchman’s tirade (6)
54 Artistic American hates the terrible clothes (7)
55 Stone mound seen out in Sachsen (7)
57 A number see what old Iraqi city? (7)
59 Man’s very acidic sauce? (6)
60 Judge switches sides, not really stressed? (6)
62 What we know goes in booze — a hydrocarbon (6)
65 Not initially drinking more lager or more rum (6)
66 By sea with waves (6)
67 Display sculptures broken by eighty explosions (9)
72 Thrushes or wrens dig ground (8)
77 Legal expert’s note about university paper (5)
78 Greek character in a spot, with hard angle to measure (7)
80 Discovery of statue by French department (6)
81 Transfer information before unknown attack (5)
84 Pointed, showing ancient city by river (5)
86 Extravagant fiction about one Teutonic lady (7)
87 Pair satisfied with island retreats (4)
88 Place...
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in