Crossword Genius

Risqué nature of playwright’s succeeded (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

raciness

'risque nature' is the definition.
(being risque or racy)

'playwright's succeeded' is the wordplay.
'playwright's' becomes 'Racine's' (Racine is an example).
'succeeded' becomes 's' (genealogical abbreviation).
'racines'+'s'='RACINESS'

'of' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for raciness that I've seen before include "Ribaldry" , "Indecency" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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