12.04.11 — Pearls are a Nuisance — the Acrostic

Sunday, December 4, 2011

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday’s thrilling acrostic draws a quotation from Pearls are a Nuisance by Raymond Chandler, three short stories plus Chandler's essay on 'the simple act of murder'.

"Three short stories with three different detectives. In general it's nice early work by Chandler. A couple of the pieces of the plot are a little thin, which is ironic because of Chandler's essay at the end of the book which comments on the problems with other people's murder/detective stories." "Solid classic crime story, the model for the film noir genre with Humphrey Bogart." ~ Maansu.com

The quotation: HE SNORTED AND HIT ME IN THE SOLAR PLEXUS. I BENT OVER AND TOOK HOLD OF THE ROOM WITH BOTH HANDS AND SPUN IT. WHEN I HAD IT NICELY SPINNING I GAVE IT A FULL SWING AND HIT MYSELF ON THE BACK OF THE HEAD WITH THE FLOOR.

The author’s name and the title of the work: CHANDLER PEARLS ARE A NUISANCE

The defined words:

A. Red-faced dismay, CHAGRIN
B. “Alas, poor Yorick!” auditor, HORATIO
C. Greatest hits collection, say, ANTHOLOGY
D. Huey, Dewey or Louie, in the comics, NEPHEW
E. Inclined not to fight, DOVISH
F. Unexpectedly poor showing, e.g., LETDOWN
G. Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt, EDITH
H. Have an influential effect (2 wds.), RUB OFF
I. Suggested as an explanation, POSITED
J. Where the Eskimos play football, EDMONTON
K. Hose on the short side, ANKLET
L. Current through Cologne, RHINE
M. Generous to a fault, maybe, LAVISH
N. Not much of a disguise, SHADES
O. Key favored by Chopin (2 wds.), A FLAT
P. Group-on-group altercation, RUMBLE
Q. Lettered item in court, EXHIBIT
R. “You can say that again!” (2 wds.), AND HOW
S. Finishing frame on a diamond, NINTH
T. Come to pass, develop, UNFOLD
U. Target for some thieves, IDENTITY
V. Choose not to get up and go? (2 wds.), SLEEP IN
W. Home of the University of Georgia, ATHENS
X. Bird also called a goatsucker, NIGHTHAWK
Y. Sugarcoated fruit or nut, COMFIT
Z. Character of a culture, ETHOS

The paragraphs containing the quotation:

I led sharply with my right and it landed flush on his chin. I seemed to me a good solid punch, but it scarcely moved him. I then put two hard left jabs into his neck and landed a second hard right at the side of his rather wide nose. He snorted and hit me in the solar plexus.

I bent over and took hold of the room with both hands and spun it. When I had it nicely spinning I gave it a full swing and hit myself on the back of the head with the floor.

~ Pearls are a Nuisance, Raymond Chandler

————————

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.