CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

16 417

Across

1. Revival recalls blunder in troubled countries (12) 8. Manky pawnshop article (7) 9. Work for each group of students (7) 11. Top quality old monk’s room in French church (10) 12. Short journey without Jack’s relative (4) 14. Jolly refreshing free lunch lacking centrepiece (8) 16. Wet nurse in the past swallowed rum (6) 17. Handle roughly half of fruit (3) 19. Hero controls, say, lots of Roman troops (6) 21. Man nicks silver following wagon in city ruined by 19s (8) 24. Avidly inspect some dog leads (4) 25. Departed to drink strong stuff, definitely not 14 (10) 27. Prods spoiled litmus paper (7) 28. First sign (7) 29. Farm, one controlled by a Greek sect on Russian river (12)

Down

1. Send for treatment here after he falls off bike (7) 2. She will read and check text that’s impenetrable (10) 3. Second strip of carpet’s more expensive (6-2) 4. Assume former court includes gym (6) 5. Rent shop with no front (4) 6. Round, plump and rich (7) 7. Scoffing luscious ripe bananas (12) 10. Male editions displayed heart-throbs (7,5) 13. Confuse former volunteer’s dog (3,7) 15. U S state put up varnish ingredient (3) 18. Cosmetics growth hides problem (3,5) 20. Mount set, doing without ring (7) 22. Everyone devours thin liquid in colony (7) 23. Island story set in Greek character’s environment (6) 26. If you set out to cross Japan you may well spot it (4)