Crossword Genius

Sparkling book with tirade about bad one (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

brilliant

'sparkling' is the definition.
(brilliant can mean sparkling or glistening)

'book with tirade about bad one' is the wordplay.
'book with' becomes 'b' (abbreviation for book. I am not sure about the 'with' bit.).
'tirade' becomes 'rant' (both can mean an angry outburst).
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'bad' becomes 'ill' (associated in meaning).
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'ill'+'i'='illi'
'rant' going around 'illi' is 'rilliant'.
'b'+'rilliant'='BRILLIANT'

(Other definitions for brilliant that I've seen before include "Very bright or vivid" , "Excellent; a diamond" , "Of outstanding ability" , "Great" , "Lustrous" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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