| PELHAM | Prime minister from 1743-54; Edward BulwerLytton novel; or, a type of bit (6) |
| THUMB | Tom -; folklore character; a type of bit for a horse; or, another name for bird's-foot trefoil (5) |
| VELVET | Flower painter Jan Brueghel the Elder's nickname; a character in an Enid Bagnold novel; or, a close-cut pile textile traditionally sold by a mercer (6) |
| HENRYPELHAM | British Whig statesman who served as prime minister from 1743 to 1754 (5,6) |
| EDMUND | ____ Cartwright, inventor of the power loom, born in 1743 (6) |
| SAMSON | 1743 Handel oratorio |
| PROLOGUE | Meaning "before word", a prefatory speech or section as an introduction to a play, poem or novel; or, a time trial before a stage race in road cycling (8) |
| ROMAN | Plain upright type as distinguished from italic and Gothic; a novel; or, a medieval romance (5) |
| JUMP | Descent by a parachutist; a Jilly Cooper novel; or, a sudden rise (4) |
| CHANDLER | Author of the Philip Marlowe novels; or, a maker of candles or soap (8) |
| FARFROMTHEMADDINGCROWD | Thomas Hardy novel or a quote from Gray's Elegy |
| TITLE | A novel or a movie's name |
| DANDELIONYN | *Ray Bradbury novel or a beverage made from flowers |
| THECOLORPURPLE | Alice Walker novel ... or a hint to 12 squares in this puzzle |
| SERENADE | 1937 James M Cain novel, or a romantic song (8) |
| WOMAN | Dostoevsky novel - or a video game also known as Curien Mansion (3.5.2.3,4) |
| EXTRACTOR | Maybe fan of bit-part player and thespian sharing a part (9) |
| HASTE | Is in possession of bit of temazepam, ecstasy and speed |
| STRIPMINE | Set off explosive in pursuit of bit of sediment here? (5,4) |
| NUDES | Naked people in digs in need of bit of garb (5) |
