CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

5 Enchanted — and about to get hurt (7) 7 Preface for this writer written retrospectively (5)

9 Duck when escort gets hit (6) 10 Article about group of people in the middle of Russia, Muslims (8)

11 Detected journalist’s halo maybe! (10)

13 Place of bitterness not keeping quiet (4)

14 Flexing muscle, sire is carrying one powerful weapon (6,7) 16 Fool cuts material short (4) 17 William Brown’s friend mad for biscuits (6,4) 19 Unmarried female writer having time wasted (8)

20 Notice old politicians making off-the-cuff comments (2-4) 22 Superficial brightness of hospital noticed on the outside (5) 23 Son gets box — one greedy for chocolates, maybe? (7)

DOWN

1 Stay to hear Terry who was held hostage (4) 2 Independent politician travels here and there for rallies (8) 3 Sort of town Communist liberated (6)

4 Study period said to be right (10)

5 Plants needing some drastic action (5)

6 Rebellious minister is cad and is prejudiced (13)

8 Marine creature mum has eaten — horrible! (7)

12 Ladies keep a tally of letters, we hear (10) 14 Underground workers not given right dogs (7) 15 Designer, the female artist leading French fashion (8) 17 Author sounding fresh (6) 18 Mount or hill in which sailor is buried (5)

21 Biography, story about France’s leader (4)