General knowledge 777

(answers in next week’s paper)

ACROSS

1, 7 and 10. National anthem of the USA (3,4-8,6)

4. Evergreen, coniferous trees with fragrant wood (6) 7. See 1 Across 8. A Spanish wine, the favourite drink of Falstaff (4) 9. Seaport on the Firth of Lorne, Scotland (4) 11. The Japanese art of flower arrangement (7) 12 and 26. Novelist whose works include The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (4,8) 14. Marshal of France, shot for treason in 1815 (3) 15 and 17. The collection of Greek sculptures bought by the British Museum in 1816 (5,7) 16. See 4 Down 19. A depression or pass in a mountain range (3) 21 and 13. Writer of thrillers such as Epitaph for a Spy, and Journey Into Fear (4,6) 22. Soccer team known as “The Gunners” (7) 23. Surname of the viscount and CIGS from 1937, commander of the BEF 1939-40 (4) 25. Extinct bird formerly inhabiting Mauritius (4) 26. See 12 27. Type of cloud formation (6) 28. A letter from an apostle to a person, or church (7)

DOWN

1. Satellite which sent the first live television transmission between the USA and Europe (7) 2. Sharp-billed olive-green songbird related to the goldfinch (6) 3. Flowering shrubby plant related to the rhododendron (6) 4 and 16. Famous character invented by cartoonist David Low (7,5)

5. Legendary daughter of a Tyrean king, in love with Aeneas (4) 6. Game similar to hockey (6) 10. See 1 Across 13. See 21 Across 17. See 15 18. Miserly churlish character in A Christmas Carol (7) 19. Superior kind of French brandy (6) 20. Part of the foot (6) 21. Body of laymen in the Presbyterian church (6) 24. Title used by an emperor of Russia, until 1917 (4)