Author gives name to top-class convert (7)
I believe the answer is:
naipaul
'author' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't judge whether it can be defined by this definition.
'name to top-class convert' is the wordplay.
'name' becomes 'n' (common abbreviation e.g. on forms).
'to top class' becomes 'AI' (resembles Ap, old-fashioned term meaning excellent).
'convert' becomes 'paul' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'n'+'ai'+'paul'='NAIPAUL'
'gives' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for naipaul that I've seen before include "Sir V. S. -, Br. author" , "V. S. -, two thousand and one Nobel Prize author" , "Author of In a Free State" , "V. S. - , novelist (A House for Mr Biswas)" , "Sir V.S. --, author" .)