| 100% | TESS | 4 | Eldest child of John and Joan Durbeyfield, in a Thomas Hardy novel |
| 51% | TESS | 4 | Joan Durbeyfield’s daughter, in a Thomas Hardy novel |
| 42% | TESS | 4 | Title woman in a Thomas Hardy novel |
| 36% | JUDE | 4 | 1996 period drama film based on a Thomas Hardy novel starring Kate Winslet and Christopher Eccleston |
| 34% | HARDY | 5 | Thomas —, author of novels A Laodicean and Jude the Obscure |
| 34% | TESS | 4 | Female heroine Durbeyfield in Thomas Hardy novel |
| 33% | ADAMS | 5 | John —, composer of the operas A Flowering Tree and Nixon in China |
| 33% | MURDOCH | 7 | Iris —, author of novels The Bell and A Word Child |
| 33% | DARKOFTHEMOON | 13 | First book in a series of novels by John Sandford featuring 46-Across (4 wds.) |
| 33% | TOPSY | 5 | Title twin sister in a series of children's books by Jean and Gareth Adamson |
| 33% | HIGHFIDELITY | 12 | Film based on a Nick Hornby novel set in a record shop starring John Cusack and Joan Cusack (2 wds.) |
| 33% | ANGEL | 5 | Character in Thomas Hardy novel Tess of the D'Urbervilles who marries the heroine |
| 33% | ELOISE | 6 | Fifth Bridgerton child, and a close friend of Penelope Featherington in "Bridgerton" |
| 33% | PROULX | 6 | Annie —, author of novels Postcards and That Old Ace in the Hole |
| 32% | EIEIO | 5 | Refrain in a children's song ... or a literal feature of 17-, 25-, 42- and 55-Across |
| 32% | BART | 4 | Oldest child of Homer and Marge |
| 32% | MEN | 3 | Of Mice and ___, "Restoring Force" band whose name is inspired by a John Steinbeck novel |
| 32% | TRAVOLTA | 8 | John ___, winner of a 2000 Razzie for his roles in "Battlefield Earth" and "Lucky Numbers" |
| 32% | TESS | 4 | Thomas Hardy novel "___ of the d'Urbervilles" |
| 32% | TESS | 4 | Thomas Hardy novel, "__ of the d'Urbervilles" |
| 32% | PUGSLEY | 7 | Elder child of Gomez and Morticia Addams |
| 32% | MASON | 5 | A E W —, author of the novels The Prisoner in the Opal and The Four Feathers |
| 32% | ONDAATJE | 8 | Michael —, author of novels Anil’s Ghost and In the Skin of a Lion |
| 32% | ALEC | 4 | & 19D Author of novels A Spy in the Family and The Loom of Youth |
| 32% | ALEC | 4 | & 9D Author of novels A Spy in the Family and The Loom of Youth |
| 32% | ALEC | 4 | & 22A Author of novels A Spy in the Family and The Loom of Youth |
| 32% | FARFRAE | 7 | Donald —, Scottish character in 1886 Thomas Hardy novel The Mayor of Casterbridge |