Naked nurses kiss French novelist (8)

I believe the answer is:

barbusse

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'french novelist' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

'naked nurses kiss' is the wordplay.
'naked' becomes 'bare' (without clothing).
'nurses' indicates putting letters inside (nurse can mean to hold onto or harbour).
'kiss' becomes 'buss' (synonyms).
'bare' placed around 'buss' is 'BARBUSSE'.

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I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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