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Quiz about Fictional Detectives Part 1
Quiz about Fictional Detectives Part 1

Fictional Detectives, Part 1 Trivia Quiz


This is the first of two quizzes on 20th century detective fiction; this part covers the earlier detectives. This is also a collaboration between austinnene and mnbates - Part 2 can be found under mnbates' name.

A multiple-choice quiz by austinnene. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
austinnene
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
278,332
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
5 / 10
Plays
1139
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Dashiell Hammett's Sam Spade epitomized the hard-boiled, slightly shifty detective. He came to life in Hammett's most famous work, "The Maltese Falcon". He was no angel! He even did his partner, Miles Archer, wrong. In which of these less-than-endearing activities did he engage, in the book? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Patricia Wentworth's Miss Maud Silver first appeared in "Grey Mask" in 1928, but what was her last appearance?
Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Rex Stout created one of the best-known of all fictional detectives of the 20th century, Nero Wolfe. Wolfe was an eccentric genius who lived in New York City in multi-story brownstone. Wolfe weighed a seventh of a ton and he was particularly fond of beer. What did Wolfe do to measure his daily intake? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Dame Ngaio Marsh created the aristocratic policeman sleuth Roderick Alleyn. What are the names of his wife and son, who feature in several of the novels?
Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Perry Mason was the lawyer/detective made famous by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry's secretary, Della Street, is nearly as well-known as he is. On what figure in Gardner's life was her character based? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Arthur Conan Doyle's brother-in-law created an anti-Holmesian character known as "the Amateur Cracksman"; what is his true identity?
Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. In 1939 Raymond Chandler created Phillip Marlowe, a quintessential hard-boiled operative who has inspired more than one later author to begin writing detective fiction. Chandler wrote a total of seven Marlowe novels. An additional, unfinished manuscript entitled "Poodle Springs" was completed by another well-known writer of crime fiction. Who? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Dorothy L. Sayers' enduring creation - Lord Peter Wimsey - featured in a novel which made much of campanology. What was the title? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Travis McGee, a Floridian who lives on a houseboat, was the protagonist of 21 books in 21 years. John D. MacDonald found a rainbow of titles for his works, all of which contained the name of a color. Which of the following colors is NOT in any of the titles of the Travis McGee series? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Father Brown, the Roman Catholic priest detective, was the hero of a series of short stories by whom? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Dashiell Hammett's Sam Spade epitomized the hard-boiled, slightly shifty detective. He came to life in Hammett's most famous work, "The Maltese Falcon". He was no angel! He even did his partner, Miles Archer, wrong. In which of these less-than-endearing activities did he engage, in the book?

Answer: He slept with Archer's wife.

Spade was a hard drinker, and he slept with his partner's wife. But he got the job done and was meticulous about reporting the progress of the case. The book was published in 1929 and made into several movies, the best of which was directed by a young John Huston in 1941.
2. Patricia Wentworth's Miss Maud Silver first appeared in "Grey Mask" in 1928, but what was her last appearance?

Answer: "The Girl in the Cellar"(1961)

Miss Maud Silver, a retired governess turned private detective, appeared in 32 novels and appears to have inspired Miss Jane Marple, who first appeared in 1930. Patricia Wentworth (Dora Amy Elles Dillon Turnbull) also wrote over 30 other novels. "The Girl in the Cellar" appeared shortly after her death in 1961.
3. Rex Stout created one of the best-known of all fictional detectives of the 20th century, Nero Wolfe. Wolfe was an eccentric genius who lived in New York City in multi-story brownstone. Wolfe weighed a seventh of a ton and he was particularly fond of beer. What did Wolfe do to measure his daily intake?

Answer: He saved the bottle caps from each beer and counted them.

Wolfe counted bottle caps. His limit was never revealed, but once or twice he scowled at the result of his count and refrained from drinking more; and at no time was Wolfe ever portrayed as being in his cups. He uncapped his beers with an opener made of gold, a gift from a grateful client.
4. Dame Ngaio Marsh created the aristocratic policeman sleuth Roderick Alleyn. What are the names of his wife and son, who feature in several of the novels?

Answer: Agatha Troy and Ricky

Roderick Alleyn appears in 32 novels from 1934 to 1982, meeting Agatha Troy in "Artists in Crime"(1938); she remains an ever present influence from then on. Ricky first appears in "Spinsters in Jeopardy"(1953).
5. Perry Mason was the lawyer/detective made famous by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry's secretary, Della Street, is nearly as well-known as he is. On what figure in Gardner's life was her character based?

Answer: His wife.

According to William Nolan's biographical sketch of Gardner, the character of Della Street was based on Gardner's second wife, (Agnes) Jean Bethel, who had been first his secretary and then his assistant for years. Gardner was separated from his first wife, Natale, for many years, but reportedly vowed never to marry again while she was alive. Natale died of a heart attack in early 1968, and about six months later, Gardner married Jean.

In the Perry Mason TV series which aired in the late 1950s and early 60s, Barbara Hale played Della. Hale married Bill Williams.

Their son, William Katt, also played Paul Drake in the Perry Mason made-for-TV movies in the late 1980s.
6. Arthur Conan Doyle's brother-in-law created an anti-Holmesian character known as "the Amateur Cracksman"; what is his true identity?

Answer: A(rthur) J. Raffles

A.J. was a gentleman cricketer, who, like Holmes, was eventually killed off by his creator in "A Thief in the Night" only to return, albeit in "reminiscence" four years later in "Mr Justice Raffles". Many of his "attributes" were echoed in "The Saint" and even James Bond.
7. In 1939 Raymond Chandler created Phillip Marlowe, a quintessential hard-boiled operative who has inspired more than one later author to begin writing detective fiction. Chandler wrote a total of seven Marlowe novels. An additional, unfinished manuscript entitled "Poodle Springs" was completed by another well-known writer of crime fiction. Who?

Answer: Robert B. Parker

Parker did his doctoral dissertation on Chandler, Ross MacDonald and Dashiell Hammett, and has said that when he began writing he consciously tried to emulate Chandler. Parker also wrote a sequel to Chandler's "The Big Sleep", entitled "Perchance to Dream".
8. Dorothy L. Sayers' enduring creation - Lord Peter Wimsey - featured in a novel which made much of campanology. What was the title?

Answer: The Nine Tailors

Lord Peter Death Bredon Wimsey was featured in twelve novels and four short story collections - two of the novels were co-written by Jill Paton-Walsh (excellently). Dorothy L. Sayers also created a series of short stories featuring Montague Egg (a wine salesman sleuth).
9. Travis McGee, a Floridian who lives on a houseboat, was the protagonist of 21 books in 21 years. John D. MacDonald found a rainbow of titles for his works, all of which contained the name of a color. Which of the following colors is NOT in any of the titles of the Travis McGee series?

Answer: Maroon

MacDonald published 78 books in his career. His first published work was a short story he wrote while serving in the military in Asia. He mailed it to his wife just to entertain her, and she sold it to a magazine for $25.00 without his knowledge. She gave him the check when he came home. In 1964 he published his first four Travis McGee novels, a very unusual move for an author.
10. Father Brown, the Roman Catholic priest detective, was the hero of a series of short stories by whom?

Answer: G. K. Chesterton

Father Brown appeared in 52 short stories between 1911 and 1936. Anthony Berkeley created the amateur sleuth Roger Sherringham in 1925, Berkeley also wrote more serious crime novels under the name Francis Iles. Ernest Bramah created the blind detective Max Carrados in three short story collections, beginning in 1914, amongst many other novels, poems and articles. R(ichard) Austin Freeman created the forensic investigator Dr. (John) Thorndyke who appeared in numerous novels and short stories starting in 1907.
Source: Author austinnene

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