Crossword Genius

Stage name of chairman carrying large first book? (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

malvolio

'stage name' is the definition.
(Malvolio is a character in Twelfth Night)

'chairman carrying large first book?' is the wordplay.
'chairman' becomes 'Mao' (Chinese leader Chairman Mao).
'carrying' is an insertion indicator.
'large' becomes 'L' (eg in clothes sizes).
'first book?' becomes 'volI' (first volume).
'l'+'voli'='lvoli'
'mao' placed around 'lvoli' is 'MALVOLIO'.

'of' is the link.

(Other definitions for malvolio that I've seen before include "comedy role" , "Character in Shakespeare" , "Theatrical character" , "Olivia's steward (Twelfth Night)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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