Breaking a rule, acquire English novelist's comics (6,3,5)

I believe the answer is:

laurel and hardy

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'breaking a rule acquire english novelist's comics' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'breaking a rule acquire english novelist's' is the wordplay.
'breaking' is an anagram indicator.
'acquire' becomes 'land' (I've seen this before).
'english novelist' becomes 'hardy' (novelist Thomas Hardy).
'a'+'rule'='arule'
'arule' anagrammed gives 'laure'.
'laure'+'land'+'hardy'='LAUREL AND HARDY'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for laurel and hardy that I've seen before include "double act" , "clownish performers" , "Comedy stars" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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