Poet read novel and worked (8)
I believe the answer is:
operated
'worked' is the definition.
('operate' can be a synonym of 'work')
'poet read novel' is the wordplay.
'novel' indicates an anagram.
'poet'+'read'='poetread'
'poetread' with letters rearranged gives 'OPERATED'.
'and' is the link.
(Other definitions for operated that I've seen before include "Adore pet (anag.)" , "Functioned" , "ran" , "'Directed or controlled, machinery say (8)'" , "Performed surgery or worked a machine" .)