Clues and Grid by Komorník
Theme: 250th anniversary of the births of Jane Austen (b. 16 December 1775) and the Royal Crescent, Bath
Winner: Andie Johnson of Idaho, USA
Review of the December 2025 3D crossword
So, another successful year of 3D calendar puzzles draws to a close, and it is especially appropriate that the final crossword of 2025, both grid and clues, should all be the work of Komorník. Not only is he a pillar of the 3D team, but he is also someone who constantly pushes the boundaries of the format and comes up with both inventive grids and creative themes — think back to 3x3x5x3x3x5, Cox’s Orange Pippin and The Cones Hotline — all of which he had a hand in and all amongst my personal favourites of the year.
This novel 13x5x5 grid is no exception to his creativity, since it grants the setter the relative luxury of using entries of thirteen letters with no snakes. Consequently, Komorník goes to town (apologies!) with a theme that emerges as the juxtaposition of an architectural masterpiece with a contemporaneous literary giant and a rich cast of her characters.
By his own admission, Komorník sets out to challenge solvers with his clueing style (who wants an easy ride?), which may not always be strictly Ximenean but which invariably demonstrates a real love of, and fascination with, the cryptic possibilities presented by the English language. Here, he exploits the longer entries to include some humorous and ingenious wordplay — I particularly liked the composite anagrams for LADY CATHERINE and THE REGENCY ERA, the ‘groom’ anagram indicator in FITZWILLIAM D’ARCY, the clever anagrams for NORTHANGER ABBEY and UNFAIR VERDICT and the sheer fun of EMMA WOODHOUSE being clued as ‘one playing with matches last thing required in antique heart of flammable timber building.’
There were more cryptic features amongst the other clues to enjoy: ALARY (‘what makes mansion essentially pay: this addition of a wing)’; (‘“devalued” Wentworth lad playing’) as an anagram of WETLAND; (‘relative died leaving thousands’) for GRAND; (‘heroine’s role in adaptation’) for ELINOR; (‘one in mad monarch who has a very poor prognosis’) for GONER.
Frank Paul once again raised a smile with his drawing for SAINT CRISPIN [s(hilling) ain’t crisp in]. Throughout the year, I have engaged in fencing matches with Frank and have managed to avoid defeat on most occasions. Those of you who have already purchased next year’s calendar (surely, that must be everybody — Ed) will know that he has a new book out and I shall definitely be buying a copy.
Thank you, Komorník, for a puzzle that was both ingenious, engaging and fun. Finally, may I take this opportunity to wish all my colleagues on the 3D team, all our setters and grid compilers, and all our solvers a healthy, prosperous and fun-filled 2026.
KM
Grid solution
Visual clue
A charade comprising a shilling, a ‘not equal to’ sign, a potato crisp and an arrow pointing into a box gives us:
S + AINT + CRISP + IN = SAINT CRISPIN
Background image
The backdrop to this month’s puzzle is a bird bath by Benjamin Balázs (CC0 1.0 licence).
Clues and explanations
Thematic solutions are indicated with an asterisk.
| Day | Solution | Clue | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ALARY | 30up What makes mansion essentially pay: this addition of a wing (5) | addition of a wing. sALARY |
| 2 | ALLEE | 2aw Shelter, previously: entirely cut down avenue (5) | avenue. LEE preceded by AL(l) Ref. proposals discussed at length in Mansfield Park |
| 3 | ALTAR* | 12to Destination of heroine? Change is announced (5) | Destination of heroine? Change hom. ”alter” All JA heroines get married! |
| 4 | ANCHO | 2d “New World” flavouring — Chawton abandoned with time running out (5) | “New World” flavouring. CHAwtON* – dried pepper from Mexico Ref. JA leaving her home in Hampshire |
| 5 | BASSI | 35up Scorning extremely talkative Bates is brought up — source of deep rumblings? (5) | source of deep rumblings? BAteS + IS rev in ‘down’ clue Ref Emma’s insult of the Bateses |
| 6 | CAROL | 18aw Part of hall, or a cottage retreat perhaps, in the bleak midwinter (5) | perhaps, in the bleak midwinter. Hidden rev. halL OR A Cottage Ref C Rossetti Christmas C |
| 7 | CHEER | 8d Celebrate woman this month passing away in Winchester (5) | Celebrate. winCHEstER minus W(oman) INST (this month). JA is buried in Winchester |
| 8 | CLING | 20aw On Cobb, Louisa tips, inches from shocking end — hold tight! (5) | hold tight! C + L + in + G |
| 9 | COMMA | 8to Bits of complex material from the start, … (5) | ,. COMplex MAterial (definition is the ,) |
| 10 | DOETH | 32up … she, when unpacked, though, as of old provides … (5) | as of old provides. DOE + ThougH |
| 11 | DRILY* | 9to … at first decipherment, risible insincerity, lambasting you with irony (5) | with irony. Initial letters Ref. JA’s humorous writing style described by this suite of 3 clues |
| 12 | ELINOR* | 24to,16ba Heroine’s role in adaptation? (6) | Heroine. (ROLE IN)* Ref Sense and Sensibility and E Thompson’s acting and adaptation for 1995 film |
| 13 | ELTON* | 19aw Clergyman, ignoring the odds, seq. let down? (5) | &lit. Even letters in sEq LeT dOwN – seq. (= ‘next’) is Emma) |
| 14 | EMMA WOODHOUSE* | 28ac One playing with matches last thing required in antique heart of flammable timber building (4,9) | One playing with matches. antiquE + flaMMAble + WOOD HOUSE Ref. her immature matchmaking efforts in novel |
| 15 | FASTI | 7d “There will be very few dates in this”? It’s a falsehood, first up? (5) | &lit. ITS A + F (rev) Ref. the 15yo JA’s History of England – FASTI means a calendar |
| 16 | FITZWILLIAM D’ARCY* | 7ba,9d Who’ll take Mrs Bennet as mother-in-law? Groom: “I’m daft — crazy — I will” (11,5) | Who’ll take Mrs Bennet as mother-in-law? (IM DAFT CRAZY I WILL)* From Pride and Prejudice |
| 17 | FLIRT* | 38up Frank, Lydia, indiscreetly romancing, trouble leading characters? They do that (5) | They do that. Initial letters Ref. F Churchill (Emma) and Elizabeth Bennett’s sister Lydia |
| 18 | GONER | 42up One in mad monarch who has very poor prognosis (5) | who has very poor prognosis. ONE in GR (Geo. III) |
| 19 | GRAND | 42to Relative died, leaving thousands (5) | thousands. GRAN + D Ref e.g. the death of Mr Dashwood senior in Sense and Sensibility, with Mr John Dashwood selfishly keeping all the wealth to himself |
| 20 | GYRAL | 36up “Stagy” rally-holding of literary circle (5) | of literary circle. hidden in StaGY RALly |
| 21 | HEWER | 3aw We find in her one that’s cutting (5) | one that’s cutting. WE in HER Ref. the satirical JA |
| 22 | INFRANGIBLE | 39ba Funny line called in fiction “parting burst”? Never! (11) | burst”? Never! RANG in FIB in (parting) LINE* Something infrangible is never burst |
| 23 | LADY CATHERINE* | 1ac She’s patronising and exploitative — hardly a nice combination — with E——– —–t (4,9) | &lit. (HARDLY A NICE + E T)* Ref. her attitude to Elizabeth Bennet |
| 24 | MAIZE | 5d Content of plot that may thicken later? (5) | CD. (use of cornflour from maize as thickener) Ref. complicated plots of JA novels |
| 25 | MOOLA | 29up Low note from brass (5) | brass. MOO + LA |
| 26 | NO FUN | 13to “Austere” name put down about female that’s written? (2,3) | Austere. F in NOUN Note also that this clue can generate AUSTEN as AUSTEre + N – see preamble. |
| 27 | NONGS | 4d Note: on “good society” — description of some foolish folk issued by Murray? (5) | description of some foolish folk issued by Murray? N ON G S Ref. Murray R in Aus and JA’s publisher |
| 28 | NORTHANGER ABBEY* | 13d,12d,30aw Thematic work began — Byron at her disposal? (10,5) | Thematic work. (BEGAN BYRON AT HER)* |
| 29 | OFFER | 33aw Proposal from one loaded with money but having no head-piece? (5) | Proposal. cOFFER Ref. e.g. Mr Rushworth in Mansfield Park |
| 30 | ORGAN | 31aw Soldiers about garrison emptying pockets — one performs vital function (5) | one performs vital function. OR + GarrisoN around (pockets) A Ref soldiery in Pride and Prejudice, of whom Wickham serves to make the plot |
| 31 | ORIGINAL ORDER | 27ba From first to last as written — for setters do err? (8,5) | From first to last as written. Inverted clue (wordplay in solution) – ORDER* |
| 32 | OSCAR | 33up ’mid November, Papa, returning thus to estate — end of production? (5) | Two defs: ’mid November, Papa (NATO letter between N and P); end of production? (target of film-maker) SO rev. + CAR Ref. stop put to theatricals by Sir Thomas Bertram at Mansfield Park |
| 33 | RASCAL* | 25to,17ac-2 Thorpe’s one in 28: not all, however, as callously… (6) | Thorpe’s one in 28. Hidden in howeveR AS CALlously Ref. nasty character in Northanger Abbey |
| 34 | RECLINE | 10ac-2,11d,41ac-2 …lie about family, taking in Catherine at first (7) | lie. C in RE + LINE Ref. continuation of 33 |
| 35 | RHEUM | 40to For which rhinorrhoea Highbury eccentric uses medication, principally? (5) | &lit. Initial letters Ref. Mr Woodhouse in Emma |
| 36 | ROSINGS* | 26to,21d In gross misrepresentation, heroine receives “welcome” here from 23 (7) | heroine receives “welcome” here from 23. (IN GROSS)* Ref. Pride and Prejudice |
| 37 | SAINT CRISPIN | 23ba,22to-2 Strange antics; having withdrawn ‘knightly’ title and bite — he’s devoted to the last (5,7) | he’s devoted to the last. ANTICS* + rev. of SIR and NIP Ref. George Knightley’s apparent neglect of Emma for a time. St Crispin is patron saint of shoemakers (who use a last to make shoes) |
| 38 | SMITH | 34aw Craftsman’s special story-telling? (5) | Craftsman. S + MYTH hom. Ref. Mrs Smith friend to Anne Elliot in Bath (Persuasion) |
| 39 | THE REGENCY ERA* | 43ba In which her gentry career about, not showing extremes of rigour (3,7,3) | &lit. (HER GENTRY CArEEr)* |
| 40 | UNFAIR VERDICT* | 14ba Verruca? Find it appalling one’s passed on 16 (6,7) | one’s passed on 16. (VERRUCA FIND IT)* Ref. the ‘Prejudice’ of Pride and Prejudice |
| 41 | WETLAND | 6d,37to “Devalued” Wentworth lad playing part of reserve in Somerset? (7) | part of reserve in Somerset. (WENTworth + LAD)* Ref. modern Somerset Wetlands National Nature Reserve and his role in plot of Persuasion, set in Somerset |
| Required | ROYAL CRESCENT | The second (inanimate) celebrant (5,8) | |
| Required | BATH | Significant location (4) | The location of the Royal Crescent |
Solvers’ comments
A very challenging puzzle with lots of unfamiliar words, but the process of solving it was still enjoyable if very painstaking at times. I’m aftraid Jane Austen is one of my least favourite authors, so I had to smile at “NO FUN” at Day 26. The visual layout of the Royal Crescent was a tour de force by Komornik, so huge praise and many thanks to him for such a clever December offering! [JA]
Crescent and Cruciverbalism: an entertaining addition to the Austen oeuvre. [NI]
Stupendous! [AJ]
Excellent puzzle from Komornik! Not being a Janeite a fair amount of research was needed, but with the clues being so well crafted the answers weren’t too difficult to establish. [JP]
A really enjoyable puzzle, and not as tough as we sometimes find from this setter. Nicely done theme, some good clueing and, as ever, a new word or two. Couldn’t work out how the first (birthday) celebrant related to Day 26, so looking forward to the blog for that explanation. Thanks Komornik. [CW]
Way outside my usual realm of knowledge (although that is far more often the rule than the exception with these puzzles), but a super enjoyable solve nonetheless! Plus, successfully parsing one of Frank Paul’s cryptic drawings is always a lovely cherry on top of the whole experience 🍒 Kudos, Komorník! [MS]
A nicely constructed, and indeed shaped, puzzle. Thanks, Komornik. [TH]
Good… [LA]
An excellent end to the year, can’t wait for the next batch. [RP]
A GREAT end to another FANTASTIC 3D year – even though I had errors in three!!! Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year all xx [RE]
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a setter in possession of a fiendish crossword must be in want of a solver. Great puzzle. Austentatious! Thank you [JT]
It is a truth universally acknowledged that every single person in possession of a 3d crossword must be in want of a life. However little known the feelings or views of such a person may be upon their first entering a solution in the grid, the truth is so well fixed in the surrounding squares that they are considered the rightful property of some one or other of the clues. [DR]
Great fun, thanks to Komornik [GW]
The Austen connection became apparent quite quickly. I didn’t know Darcy’s first name before. A few constructions puzzling: 1, 7, 30, 32. Doesn’t 22 wordplay give “infrangable”? [MJ]
This was a bit of a tricky one! A higher than average number of words unfamiliar to me – ALARY; ALLEE; ANCHO; FASTI; GYRAL; NONGS and the rather delightful INFRANGIBLE – plus a few clues that I couldn’t fully parse. I still haven’t worked out the instructions about the ‘temporary and non-fitting’ day 26, although I assume its something to do with ‘AUSTERE’ changing to ‘AUSTEN’. But some clever clueing, with lots of references to characters – fortunately, I have read all of Jane Austen’s books, so that helped a lot. Liked the triple def in day 33. Thanks to Komornik et al. [JC]
A good few words I’ve never heard of and I’m no fan of Jane Austen but at the end of the day it all came together thanks to fair clueing, a good dictionary and a good search engine for the Austen stuff. Thanks Komornik [SC]
Helped that Britbox is celebrating Jane Austen’s 250th Birthday this month. [KD]
I loved the theme as I’m a big fan of her books. I remember visiting the Jane Austen Centre in Bath a few years back; a fascinating experience – and great food in the tearoom! Thanks to Komornik for an enjoyable puzzle. [RS]
A most enjoyable and interesting challenge to round off the year. Thank you, Komornik! [SF]
Nice lot of thematic material and original grid! [PD]
This anniversary caught us by surprise as we had almost finished the crossword before we heard about the theme on the radio. But we found it a very agreeable puzzle. [J&JH]
Had to dig deep for the Austen references! A good end to the year. 😎🍾🎅 [DM]
Wow tricky I’m submitting now not expecting 100% but you never know… Finally got it on 5th attempt. Silly mistake on 39. Best puzzle of the year I think. [SB]
Loved it! A perfect accompaniment to all the BBC celebrations. Enjoyed finding all the “baddies”… as well as the favourites. Thank you and happy new year! Can’t wait to start January but being patient! [HH]
Fittingly (and visually) elegant, witty, and an extraordinary feat in making almost every clue thematically relevant. Bravo Komornik! [MS]
I came back for a skirmish on Christmas Eve expecting Hints and Tips to come to my aid, but I have actually got just-about-believable answers for everything without them, so will submit with fingers crossed. Enjoyed the shenanigans about day 26, both answers entirely plausible. [EF]
A very enjoyable end to the year of 3D puzzling. I liked the way the grid reflected the theme. [JB]
An interesting puzzle but I have to admit that the last few in took a while! Thanks for a great year of puzzles and happy new year to all. [SB]
Excellent [RL]
What I used to know of Jane Austen and her works was mostly gleaned from TV adaptations. Now, following much googling, I feel I now know rather more. Thanks Komorník! [PA]
I’m not an Austen fan but I did really enjoy it. I liked how the shape of the puzzle tied into the clue. [HM]
Wow – that was tough…and I learned a bit about Jane Austen! Thanks Komornik and…Komornik… [MC]
Seeing a couple of Jane Austen references early on helped me identify some of the other answers. I looked for pictures of the second celebrant but couldn’t find a picture of the stone bird – a link would be nice. [JC]
Very inventive as usual, though still a couple of answers I’m not 100% on. [MH]
Lovely puzzle and great way to match the theme to the grid. [MD]
Thank you for all the comments. I knew there were Janeites and antis – not a new thing, see for example the withering attacks in Edmund Crispin’s very funny detective novel The Moving Toyshop – but I’m very appreciative of the praise for the grid and for some clues. I’m glad the somewhat tortured 26 was appreciated by some.
MJ, the clue for 22 barely got past the editors, but I think it’s all right: “funny line” has “called” in “fiction”, “parting” it: it’s a matryoshka clue. My own favourite part was constructing the clues for Eliza Bennet and Darcy, while the clue I like most is the one for EMMA WOODHOUSE and her matches.
I really enjoyed all the research for this puzzle. I do love JA, but having recently read Middlemarch I’m aware that George Eliot is a far more profound analyst of human nature, while still giving us much of the ironic fun. Caleb Garth has now joined my calendar of secular saints alongside Joe Gargery and Arthur Clennam.
That’s it for me and literature for some time. Happy solving in 2026 everybody.