Forward March solution
by Kegler
The blank spaces are filled by the names of the four March sisters, as detailed by the extra words’ first letters:
THE GIRLS OF “LITTLE WOMEN” BY LOUISA MAY ALCOTT.
In grid order from top to bottom, they are
1: MEG, 2: JO, 3: BETH,
and 4: AMY.
Across
| 1 | ARTIS + T (SITAR anag) {television} |
| 6 | AD(A + GI)O {Hessian} |
| 11 | BEANPOLE (NOBLE APE anag) {enjoys} |
| 12 | NUTMEG (TUN rev) |
| 13 | JOB + LESS |
| 15 | L + ILAC (CALI rev) {governor} |
| 17 | HA(NSO)MS (SON anag) {intelligence} |
| 18 | O + N(E)WAY (YAWN rev) {retail} |
| 19 | C + LEFS (SELF anag) {lyrical} |
| 23 | SIDE ("SIGHED" hom) {spirit} |
| 24 | STIR (2 defs) {officer} |
| 26 | EDEN (NEED anag) {flower} |
| 28 | MA + CBETH |
| 30 | DR + ONE {lonely} |
| 31 | CO(OPUs)P {ink} |
| 33 | BEA(VE)RS {TVA} |
| 36 | SU(IT)E {temporarily} |
| 37 | GIG + GLEe {last} |
| 38 | GILL (2 defs) {existing} |
| 39 | SEASHORE (SHOES ARE anag) {wooden} |
| 40 | AMYLASES ("LAZES" hom) |
| 41 | MOT + TOS (rev) {observer} |
|
Down
| 1 | AB(ALONE)S {massive} |
| 2 | REJOINED ("RAINED" hom) |
| 3 | TA(B)LE {excessive} |
| 4 | IN(L)AWS (SWAIN anag) {nice} |
| 5 | TOSH (SHOT anag) {being} |
| 6 | AL'S + ACE {young} |
| 7 | DE(A)N {leading} |
| 8 | ANISES (hidden) {oak} |
| 9 | ITEMS (EMITS anag) {undeniably} |
| 10 | OMEGAS (even letters) |
| 14 | L,(OFT)Y {Italian} |
| 16 | CA(I) + RN {sandstone} |
| 20 | LOCOS (COOLS anag) {annoying} |
| 21 | TRAP + EZiES (rev) {mangling} |
| 22 | FERAL (FLARE anag) {armrests} |
| 25 | IN UTERO (ROUTINE anag) {yoga} |
| 27 | NO(V)ELS {adventure} |
| 28 | MERGES (hidden) {limousine} |
| 29 | BETHsOUGHT |
| 30 | DEVIL (rev) {called} |
| 32 | P(I + L)OT {opponent's} |
| 33 | BIGAMY (1st letters) |
| 34 | lEASE {tech} |
| 35 | S(I)AM {trainee} |
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