Crossword Genius

Novelist from France's main housing trouble (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mailer

'novelist' is the definition.
(Norman Mailer, 1923-2007)

'france's main housing trouble' is the wordplay.
'france's main' becomes 'mer' ('sea' in French - the main can mean the sea).
'housing' indicates putting letters inside.
'trouble' becomes 'ail' (synonyms).
'mer' placed around 'ail' is 'MAILER'.

'from' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for mailer that I've seen before include "novelist" , "person at the post?" , "One putting armour on" , "Norman --, US author" , "writer from America" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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