Crossword Genius

English writer makes toxic poster to commence Footloose? (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

trollope

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

'english writer' is the definition.
'trollope' can be an answer for 'writer' (I've seen this before). I am unsure of the 'english' bit.

'toxic poster to commence footloose?' is the wordplay.
'toxic poster' becomes 'troll' (I have seen 'Provocative poster' mean 'troll' so perhaps 'poster' could also mean 'troll'. I am not sure about the 'toxic' bit.).
'to commence' becomes 'open' (opening is a kind of commencing).
'footloose?' means to remove the last letter (the bottom or 'foot' is loosened from the word).
'open' with its final letter removed is 'ope'.
'troll'+'ope'='TROLLOPE'

'makes' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for trollope that I've seen before include "Barchester novelist" , "Roll poet over to find a Victorian novelist" , "Anthony ---, Nineteenth century author" , "Anthony -, Barchester Towers author" , "Barsetshire novels writer" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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