US novelist from outskirts of Maine left French town (8)
I believe the answer is:
melville
'us novelist' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'outskirts of maine left french town' is the wordplay.
'outskirts of' suggests removing the centre (only letters on the outskirts).
'left' becomes 'l' (common abbreviation).
'french town' becomes 'ville' ('town' in French).
'maine' with its centre taken out is 'me'.
'me'+'l'+'ville'='MELVILLE'
'from' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for melville that I've seen before include "Herman --, author of Moby Dick" , "Herman --, author of Moby-Dick" , "Creator of Dick" , "Writer of Moby Dick" , "Herman ........ wrote ''Moby Dick''" .)