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Quiz about Writers From Wales
Quiz about Writers From Wales

Writers From Wales Trivia Quiz


Wales is a small country which has produced its share of well-known writers, poets and playwrights. Your challenge is to identify them from my clues.

A multiple-choice quiz by bracklaman. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
bracklaman
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
230,449
Updated
Jul 23 22
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
749
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. This very well known author was born in South Wales where he lived before his many adventures in the North Americas, where he notably encountered 'Three Fingered Jack'.

He became a poet and an author. One line of his poetry is much quoted if misunderstood;
'What is this life, if full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare'.

So do you know who is the poet and author I have described?
Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. This Cardiff based author I want you to identify wrote many short stories and novels for children and for adults. Many of his books have been made into films and cartoons. If I told you just one of the titles of his works for children, and there were many, you'd guess his identity straightaway. So the only other clue you'll get from me is that he wrote the screenplay for the James Bond movie 'You Only Live Twice'. So who is this author? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Another writer from South Wales. This author was a true giant of his times. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950 although to many he was better known for his contributions to science. So who was this writer, do you know? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. This poet and playwright I now ask you to identify had an undeniable literary genius but was well liked by only the very few who were prepared to overlook his failings mainly fuelled by drink. His address in Swansea should be clue enough for you '5 Cwmdonkin Drive'. If not, how about these characters he created; 'Mrs. Ogmore-Pritchard' or 'Gossamer Beynon', do they allow you to name this author? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. The most famous literary achievement of this gallant officer from North Wales was entitled after a quotation taken from the Book of Proverbs in the King James Bible (9:1): 'Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars.'
To identify him you'll need to realise he was more famous for his military exploits during World War I than his writings. Can you identify him?
Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. This author was born in South Wales in 1920. He was a very well-known and successful jockey before retiring from racing when he became a journalist and then best selling author of thrillers. So who was he? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Born in Cardiff to an Orthodox Jewish family this authoress, documentary writer and novelist was the winner of the Booker Prize in 1970 for her book 'The Elected Member'. Who was this writer? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. This writer was born in Pembrokeshire and became famous for her historical novels, screen plays and general writings. At least two of her works 'Tipping the Velvet' and 'Fingersmith' have been dramatised by BBC TV. Can you tell me who she was? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. This author has written spy novels, thrillers and historical books. He was born in 1949 in Cardiff, Wales and was the son of a tax inspector. Can you identify one of the highest selling of all present day Welsh authors? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. This author, the final one for you to identify, wrote several novels set in Wales during the Industrial Revolution and the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. He was a prolific author writing juvenile historical novels, sequels to his famous successful story of the Morgan family, spy novels and screen scripts. His most famous novel became the basis of an Oscar winning film. Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. This very well known author was born in South Wales where he lived before his many adventures in the North Americas, where he notably encountered 'Three Fingered Jack'. He became a poet and an author. One line of his poetry is much quoted if misunderstood; 'What is this life, if full of care, We have no time to stand and stare'. So do you know who is the poet and author I have described?

Answer: W H Davies

Apart from those famous lines of poetry W H Davies also wrote "The Autobiography of a Super Tramp" which I thoroughly recommend to you if you want to know what life and hardship in Canada and the USA was at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
2. This Cardiff based author I want you to identify wrote many short stories and novels for children and for adults. Many of his books have been made into films and cartoons. If I told you just one of the titles of his works for children, and there were many, you'd guess his identity straightaway. So the only other clue you'll get from me is that he wrote the screenplay for the James Bond movie 'You Only Live Twice'. So who is this author?

Answer: Roald Dahl

Roald Arron Dahl was a much loved and widely read author of children's books e.g. 'James and The Giant Peach'. What many don't realise, however, is that he was also a prolific writer for adults and to his credit are screen scripts and many television plays and other productions. His series 'Tales of Mystery and Imagination' was very popular on British television for years.

Roald Dahl was of Norwegian descent but was raised in Cardiff and lived there most of his life.
3. Another writer from South Wales. This author was a true giant of his times. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950 although to many he was better known for his contributions to science. So who was this writer, do you know?

Answer: Bertrand Russell

Earl (Bernard) Russell was regarded by many as one of the most influential and radical academic and political commentator of his age. His writings did much to improve the general understanding of the place of science, especially mathematics and also philosophy, by the public at large. His Nobel citation perhaps sums up some of his contribution: "in recognition of his varied and significant writings in which he champions humanitarian ideals and freedom of thought".

He was born in the beautiful village of Trelleck, near Monmouth in Gwent South Wales.
4. This poet and playwright I now ask you to identify had an undeniable literary genius but was well liked by only the very few who were prepared to overlook his failings mainly fuelled by drink. His address in Swansea should be clue enough for you '5 Cwmdonkin Drive'. If not, how about these characters he created; 'Mrs. Ogmore-Pritchard' or 'Gossamer Beynon', do they allow you to name this author?

Answer: Dylan Thomas

Dylan Marlais Thomas was born on October 27, 1914 in Swansea, and died in 1953 in St Vincent's Hospital, New York, after a drinking marathon. He wrote many poems, including 'Fern Hill', 'The Hunchback In The Park' and of course 'Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night'. He also wrote the famous 'play for voices' - 'Under Milk Wood'.
5. The most famous literary achievement of this gallant officer from North Wales was entitled after a quotation taken from the Book of Proverbs in the King James Bible (9:1): 'Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars.' To identify him you'll need to realise he was more famous for his military exploits during World War I than his writings. Can you identify him?

Answer: T E Lawrence

Lawrence was the famous 'Lawrence of Arabia' a maverick military action hero and author of the autobiographical 'Seven Pillars of Wisdom'. The title was all that remained of the earlier Lawrence treatise, never published and written before the outbreak of the Great War, on the seven Holy Cities of Islam Turks from Arabia.
Born in Tremadog in North Wales.
6. This author was born in South Wales in 1920. He was a very well-known and successful jockey before retiring from racing when he became a journalist and then best selling author of thrillers. So who was he?

Answer: Dick Francis

He served in the Royal Air Force for six years during World War II, piloting fighter and bomber aircraft including the Spitfire and Lancaster between 1943 and 1946.
He was born in Lawrenny in Pembrokeshire and was the son of a jockey.
He was the Queen's jockey for a number of years.
7. Born in Cardiff to an Orthodox Jewish family this authoress, documentary writer and novelist was the winner of the Booker Prize in 1970 for her book 'The Elected Member'. Who was this writer?

Answer: Bernice Rubens

Bernice Rubens was the winner of the Booker Prize in 1970 and also later the Wingate Prize for her books 'The Elected Member' and 'Kingdom Come'.

She was born in Cardiff in 1928.

According to the Times Obituary "Bernice Rubens was one of Britain's most successful post war novelists"

Two of her novels were made into films. In 1981 it was 'I Sent a Letter to my Love' with Simone Signoret and Jean Rochefort; and in 1988 it was 'Madame Sousatzka' with Shirley MacLaine. In addition, her book 'Mr Wakefield's Crusades' (1985) was turned into a television mini-series.
8. This writer was born in Pembrokeshire and became famous for her historical novels, screen plays and general writings. At least two of her works 'Tipping the Velvet' and 'Fingersmith' have been dramatised by BBC TV. Can you tell me who she was?

Answer: Sarah Waters

Sarah Waters was born in 1966 and raised in Neyland, Pembrokeshire in West Wales.
9. This author has written spy novels, thrillers and historical books. He was born in 1949 in Cardiff, Wales and was the son of a tax inspector. Can you identify one of the highest selling of all present day Welsh authors?

Answer: Ken Follett

Ken Follett produced his first novel in 1978 ('Eye of the Needle') It was made into a film starring Kate Nelligan and Donald Sutherland.
He has produced a large number of books since then.

He is married to a British Member of Parliament, Barbara Follett, who is also a well-known writer.
10. This author, the final one for you to identify, wrote several novels set in Wales during the Industrial Revolution and the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. He was a prolific author writing juvenile historical novels, sequels to his famous successful story of the Morgan family, spy novels and screen scripts. His most famous novel became the basis of an Oscar winning film.

Answer: R Llewellyn

Richard Dafydd Vivian Llewellyn Lloyd was born in 1906 in Hendon, London. He had a variety of working class jobs in kitchens, mines and finally joined the Welsh Guards. His novels were at their best when he wrote of the sub strata of industrial society.

His most famous work was 'How Green Was My Valley' set in the coalfields of South Wales. He wrote many sequels tracing the life and times of the Morgan family.
Source: Author bracklaman

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