5 down
US
writer
in
hospital
after
breakdown
following
split
(4)
US writer in hospital after breakdown following split (4)
hints
0
checks
0
hints
The definition is at the beginning of the clue.
How the clue works
The definition is US writer, giving Philip ROTH. For the wordplay, take ROT, meaning decay or breakdown, and add H, the abbreviation for hospital, which comes 'after' it. The 'in' and 'following split' are just surface padding around a simple charade.