Crossword Genius

Novel character making one laugh first off -- something fruity by Nordic citizen (11,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

huckleberry finn

'novel character' is the definition.
(in novels by Mark Twain)

'laugh first off something fruity by nordic citizen' is the wordplay.
'laugh' becomes 'chuckle' (chuckling is a kind of laughing).
'first off' means to remove the first letter.
'something fruity' becomes 'berry' (a berry is a fruit).
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'nordic citizen' becomes 'Finn' (someone from Finland).
'chuckle' with its initial letter removed is 'huckle'.
'huckle'+'berry'+'finn'='HUCKLEBERRY FINN'

'making one' is the link.

(Other definitions for huckleberry finn that I've seen before include "Adventurous character" , "featured in adventurous book" , "Fictional creation of Mark Twain" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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