### Clue: Soothing Hardy book borders on eroticism at the start (9)
### Answer: EMOLLIENT 
 ### Explanation: Definition: Soothing
  E,M(outermost letters of,borders on "eroticism") **placed before**(at the start) [OLLIE(nickname for Oliver Hardy, half of the Luarel and Hardy comedy duo) + NT(abbrev. for $$N$$ew $$T$$estament,holy book – strictly speaking books?)].  Nicely misdirected to author Thomas Hardy – did any of his works border on eroticism? 
Answer: Descriptive of medicine, lotions, salves, etc. that are soothing, especially to the skin.