Crossword Genius

Fine novel learned of, alas, to be ignored (4,2,4,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

fall on deaf ears

'be ignored' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'fine novel learned of alas' is the wordplay.
'fine' becomes 'f' (abbreviation).
'novel' is an anagram indicator.
'learned'+'of'+'alas'='learnedofalas'
'learnedofalas' is an anagram of 'allondeafears'.
'f'+'allondeafears'='FALL ON DEAF EARS'

'to' acts as a link.

(Another definition for fall on deaf ears that I've seen is " totally ignored".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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