| CHESHIRE | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Cat, fictional feline created by Lewis Carroll and noted for its mischievous grin (8) |
| CHESHIRECAT | Fictional character known for its mischievous grin |
| WORDLADDER | Puzzle invented by Lewis Carroll (and a hint to this puzzle's theme) |
| PETE | ___ the Cat (fictional feline of children's books) |
| INVICTUS | Poem by English poet WE Henley, published in 1888 and noted for its evocation of stoicism (8) |
| SANDWICH | Kent town lying on the River Stour and noted for its golf course, Royal St George's (8) |
| FILIPINO | Nationality of Jose Rizal, born in 1861 and noted for his writing and scholarship (8) |
| NONSENSE | ___ verse, poetry form associated with Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear (8) |
| KATYDIDS | Large longhorn grasshoppers found in the U.S. and noted for their rasping sounds (8) |
| HAMSTERS | Small rodents often kept as pets and noted for their cheekpouches (8) |
| PENNAMES | Lewis Carroll and George Sand, e.g. |
| BRADFORD | ..... .. Bulls, 2024 RFL Championship club whose head coach is Eamon O'Carroll and home ground is Odsal Stadium (8) |
| MONA | Acronym for Hobart's art museum, created by a local businessman and noted for its themes of sex and death (4) |
| PROMOTED | Advertised school dance and noted November cancellation (8) |
| OCONNORS | Actor Carroll and singer Sinead |
| SNARK | Fictional animal species created by Lewis Carroll in his nonsense poem, The Hunting of the ___; Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) was born in Daresbury in 1832 (5) |
| AMANDAOWEN | Real name of the Yorkshire Shepherdess, born in 1974 and noted for her books and TV work (6,4) |
| BOBBYDAVRO | Actor and comedian born Robert Nankeville in 1958 and noted for his pantomime appearances (5,5) |
| NONSENSEVERSE | Poems of Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear, eg (8,5) |
| ALICE | Girl created by Lewis Carroll |
