Gripping new English writer is pleasant change (9)
I believe the answer is:
ninepence
'change' is the definition.
(historical type of coin)
'gripping new english writer is pleasant' is the wordplay.
'gripping' indicates putting letters inside (inserted letters are gripped).
'new' becomes 'n' (common abbreviation eg NT for New Testament).
'english' becomes 'E' (abbreviation as in OED).
'writer' becomes 'pen' (something which writes).
'is pleasant' becomes 'nice' (associated in meaning).
'n'+'e'+'pen'='nepen'
'nepen' inserted inside 'nice' is 'NINEPENCE'.
(Other definitions for ninepence that I've seen before include "Three-quarters of a shilling" , "in a right old state" , "Using old money, had one over the eight" , "amount of old money" .)