A new series beginning in 1800.
Beginning in the early years of the novel – as we know and love it – each quiz covers a decade of literary events – 2 questions per year. Births, deaths, publications, events; fiction, non-fiction, poetry, plays and books for children.
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Question of
1950 – Isaac Asimov’s first full length novel was published, what was it called?
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Pebble in the Sky
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The Naked Sun
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Question of
1950 – The first of nearly 18,000 Peanuts cartoons were published between this year and the year 2000. What is the name of the piano playing love of Lucy’s life?
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Schroeder
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Linus
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Question of
1951 – ‘If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born…’ of which ground breaking novel is this the opening line?
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Catcher in the Rye
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On the Road
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Question of
1951 – ‘I come from Des Moines. Somebody had to.’ Which travel writer was born on December 8th?
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Bill Bryson
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Paul Theroux
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Question of
1952 – The world’s longest running play – Christie’s The Mousetrap – opened in this year. What did it start out as?
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A radio play
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A novel
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Question of
1952 – Ralph Ellison’s novel of social issues facing African Americans uses the same title as an HG Wells novel. Which one?
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The Invisible Man
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The Country of the Blind
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Question of
1953 – The world is introduced to Fleming’s James Bond. In which novel?
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Casino Royale
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Goldfinger
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Question of
1953 – Finish the title of Bradbury’s classic dystopian novel: Fahrenheit —
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451
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415
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Question of
1954 – At the beginning of Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring who is celebrating his eleventy-first birthday?
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Bilbo Baggins
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Samwise Gamgee
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Question of
1954 – ‘A person’s a person, no matter how small.’ From which delightful Dr Seuss book does this come?
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Horton Hears a Who!
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Fox in Socks
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Question of
1955 – Highsmith’s The Talented Mr Ripley is persuaded to travel from New York to which European country?
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Italy
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Greece
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Question of
1955 – In Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof of which sport is Brick an aging hero?
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Football
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Baseball
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Question of
1956 – In Smith’s A Hundred and One Dalmatians how does Mrs Dearly know Cruella de Vil?
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Old schoolfriends
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Distant cousins
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Question of
1956 – In O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey into Night what is the mother, Mary, addicted to?
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Morphine
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Alcohol
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Question of
1957 – Pasternak’s Doctor Zhivago is refused publication in Russia, which country is the first to publish it?
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Italy
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Sweden
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Question of
1957 – In Dr Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, what is the name of the Grinch’s unloved but loyal dog?
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Max
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Fred
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Question of
1958 – Who is the narrator of Capolte’s novella, Breakfast at Tiffany’s?
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Unnamed
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Holly Golightly
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Question of
1958 – Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is set in which African country?
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Nigeria
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Ghana
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Question of
1959 – A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry is set in which major city?
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Chicago
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Atlanta
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Question of
1959 – After a 31 year obscenity ban which book is finally published in the US?
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Lady Chatterly’s Lover
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Tropic of Cancer
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