This has plot penned by a woman (4,4)
I believe the answer is:
adam bede
'this' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'plot penned by a woman' is the wordplay.
'plot' becomes 'bed' (a plot of land).
'penned by' is an insertion indicator (inserted letters are penned in).
'woman' becomes 'dame' (dame can mean a woman).
'a'+'dame'='adame'
'bed' going inside 'adame' is 'ADAM BEDE'.
'has' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for adam bede that I've seen before include "Book by George Eliot" , "Novel by George Eliot" , "Carpenter" .)