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Title Construction
Setter Shackleton
Series The Listener
Number 4246
Date 15/06/2013
Grid 13×13 barred grid with 180° symmetry. There are no clue numbers. Clues are presented in a single unnumbered list.
Preamble Clues are presented in alphabetical order of their answers, which must be entered where they fit. When arranged in standard order, the initial letters of clues spell out sources for two thematic objects. The first object could be constructed so that an orderly depiction of the second object contains a relevant quotation, which must be highlighted. Solvers must deduce the author of the quotation and a thematic destination to fill the unclued entries and, finally, swap a single letter in the author's name with three letters of an overlong answer to give a thematic location. Actual construction is not required. The Chambers Dictionary (2011) is the primary reference.
Solution Notes
(Hide Solution)		The first message, Book of Genesis, eleven four, leads to the Tower of Babel, which could be constructed by joining the two sides of the grid, with some across entries wrapping around the join. The other message, title of Led Zeppelin song, refers to Stairway to Heaven, represented by a staircase spiralling up the tower, containing the quotation from Francis Bacon: "ALL RISING TO GREAT PLACE IS BY A WINDING STAIR". The BYL of BYLANES swaps with the C of BACON to give BABYLON. Babel is the Hebrew name for Babylon.
KeywordsBook of Genesis Tower of Babel Led Zeppelin Stairway to Heaven Francis Bacon ALL RISING TO GREAT PLACE IS BY A WINDING STAIR BABYLON
Acknowledgements Preamble and solution notes © 2024 The Times. Reproduced with permission.
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