GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

Across

9. First of Jane Austen’s novels, published in 1817 (10,5)

10. Inhabitants of a city destroyed by Agamemnon’s Greek army around 1200BC (7)

12. Yellow or white Italian cornmeal cooked in water or stock (7)

13. Three-sided tropical hard-shelled seed with white oily meat (6,3)

14. Female singing voice between contralto and soprano (5)

15. Mythological half-giant son of Poseidon and Gaia (7)

18. Southernmost region of mainland Portugal, one of Europe’s favourite holiday destinations (7)

21. Board with alphabet on it used to spell out supernatural messages (5)

23. ___ the Stone, 1984 American actionadventure comedy starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner (9)

25. Small tawny-brown heron with booming cry found in marshes (7)

26. Metal urn, used in Russia to boil water for tea (7)

29. North American flower of varying colours, also known as aster (10,5) Down 1. Viking who became king of England in 994, best known by the English version of his name (4)

2. Rice-shaped pasta, can be used in soups, salads or baked (4) 3. B vitamin that prevents beri-beri, maintains appetite and growth (8) 4. Album released by Celine Dion in September 1990 (6)

5. Christian martyr of the 3rd century; her co-martyr Felicity, was her slave (8) 6. District of Manhattan, major AfricanAmerican centre (6)

7. ___ Scrooge, character in Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol (8)

8. Any trees of the genus Platanus with thin-scaled bark, lobed leaves and ballshaped heads of fruit (8)

11. To broadcast again, as in film or TV show (5)

15. Nuclear weapon in which enormous energy is released by nuclear fission (4-4) 16. Art consisting of a painting or carving on three panels (8)

17. To distribute loosely (8) 19. Satellite of Jupiter and largest moon in the Solar System (8) 20. Uncle __: play by Russian playwright Anton Chekov (5)

22. Town in the Bible guarding the upper reaches of the Valley of Elah (6) 24. Sweet aromatic grape used for raisins and wine; the capital of Oman (6) 27. You’re so ___, song written and performed by Carly Simon (4)

28. ___ Darby, New Zealand actor and comedian (4)