Crossword Genius

Writer talked about devil (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dickens

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'devil' is the definition.
(I know that devil can be written as dickens)

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for dickens that I've seen before include "British author; the Devil" , "'Hard Times' 17" , "Devil of a novelist!" , "A successful author" , "Author of Our Mutual Friend, d. 1870" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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