CROSSWORD No 1,569

TO ENTER Complete the crossword and count how many times the letter ‘X’ appears in the grid. Post your entry to YOU Crossword No 1,569, PO Box 5332, Cardiff Lane, Dublin 2. Closing date is Friday, December 1. One random winner from all correct entries will win €100 and five runners-up will win €25 each. Winners will be notified within 14 days. Solution in two weeks

ACROSS

8 Loses hope (8) 9 Close at hand (6) 10 Old Etonian author (6,6) 11 Zimbabwe’s capital (6) 12 Rank of 10 across in the Home Guard during World War II (8) 14 Little Women sister (4) 15 Lowest or deepest point (5) 17 Present, offering (4) 19 The government’s language in 3 and 13 down (8) 23 Sequentially (2,4) 24 Unhappy, not contented (12) 25 Fanatic (6) 26 Short biography of a recently deceased person (8)

DOWN

1 Lover’s song (8) 2 Comes closer (10) 3 (and 13 down) Dystopian 1949 novel by 10 across (8,6-4) 4 Supplants (6) 5 Enchant, charm (6)

6 In the New Testament, Paul’s name before his conversion (4)

7 He’s the hero’s mentor and nemesis in 3 and 13 down (1’5) 13 See 3 down 16 Inflammation of the mucous membrane that lines the nose (8)

18 Refrains, avoids (8)

20 Currant-filled cake that shares its name with a character from The Goon Show (6)

21 Artificial – like coffee during World War II (6)

22 Surname that links the actors Diane, Buster and Michael (6)

24 Uninteresting, lacklustre (4)