them author (5)
I believe the answer is:
oates
'them author' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for oates that I've seen before include "Captain on Scott's last expedition" , "Titus --, English conspirator" , "Explorer of history" , "Self-sacrificing member of Scott's Antarctic team" , "Antarctic explorer" .)