Skilfully handling English novelist (8)

I believe the answer is:

fielding

I believe this is a double definition.

'skilfully handling' is the first definition.
(as in fielding a question)

'english novelist' is the second definition.
(18th-century novelist Henry Fielding)

(Other definitions for fielding that I've seen before include "What long leg is doing" , "Not batting?" , "slip?" , "in the covers?" , "Playing cricket; author" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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