Area, so long closed, prepares for work (1,8,2,4)
I believe the answer is:
a farewell to arms
'work' is the definition.
(I have seen 'Work of Ernest' mean 'a farewell to arms' so perhaps 'work' could also mean 'a farewell to arms')
'area so long closed prepares' is the wordplay.
'area' becomes 'a' (maths abbreviation).
'so long' becomes 'farewell' (both mean goodbye).
'closed' becomes 'to' (as in a door closed to).
'prepares' becomes 'arms'.
'a'+'farewell'+'to'+'arms'='A FAREWELL TO ARMS'
'for' is the link.
(Other definitions for a farewell to arms that I've seen before include "comment on the Venus de Milo?" , "Book" , "what one handing in weapon might say" , "What Venus de Milo might have said" , "valediction from the Venus de Milo?" .)