The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word DISRAELI
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
D
I
S
R
A
E
L
I
More clues leading to the result DISRAELI
- Old PM first to depart from Tel Aviv, for example?
- Old PM is with artist opening shop
- Lead on Dutch national statesman
- Old earl and duke near country inn’s entrance
- Prime Minister is anti Lear’s ideas being raised? Partly
- LOCO DERAILS—1 PM
- Statesman and duke seen with Benjamin Netanyahu?
- Prominent Victorian dancing ladies, one entertaining Queen
- Rex is ideal playing old 23 leader
- PM ordered airfields to keep out France
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Novelist" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case novelist = disraeli.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.