Crossword Genius

Work by The Third Man novelist (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

fielding

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'novelist' is the definition.
(I know that Fielding has the occupation novelist)

'work by the third man' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'work' could be 'field' (field work is a kind of work) and 'field' is located in the answer.
'man' could be 'n' (knight, a man in chess) and 'n' is present in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for fielding that I've seen before include "Tom Jones author, d.1754" , "Dealing with" , "Perhaps trying to catch out" , "in the covers?" , "What long leg is doing" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times and The Sunday Times.
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