John Boyne Trivia

1. What does the expression "Ladder To The Sky" refer to?

From Quiz John Boyne's "Ladder To The Sky"

Answer: Ambition

This story compares ambition to a LITERAL ladder to the sky. The moral of the story is: ambition is a pointless, self-defeating exercise. Especially for people like Maurice, who spend their lives trying to achieve something - and creating so much destruction along the way.

From Quiz "Stay Where You Are And Then Leave" - John Boyne

Answer: Milkman

Damley Road is a nice street for children to live. All the neighbours know each other. Eccentric neighbours, like Old Bill from Australia, let Alfie into their homes like one of the family. Alfie's granny (Georgie's mother) lives across the road, too. Alfie's closest friend is the daughter of the foreign-accented family who run the local tobacconist. Georgie's best mate Joe lives across the road, too, and Granny thinks of Joe as almost a son. But soon all these friendships turn into hostilities. Little Alfie does not understand why.

From Quiz "The House of Special Purpose" - John Boyne

Answer: Russia

Georgy was born in 1899 and now, at the age of 82, he writes about his very eventful life. He and his wife Zoya have always been tight-lipped about their lives before they had to flee Russia. Now, poor Zoya is dying and they are both looking back on a shared happy life, but sadly, one marred by tragedy.

From Quiz The Boy At The Top Of The Mountain

Answer: Both French and German

The boy was born in 1929, and no one has any idea what he will experience or witness before he becomes a man. Pierrot's father, Herr Fischer, is German and his mother is French. The Great War took its toll on the father, and he commits suicide before his son starts school. The poor mother dies of tuberculosis a few years later, and Pierrot is sent to an orphanage. He is resentful when his Jewish neighbours say they cannot take him in - despite his close friendship with their deaf son Anshel.

From Quiz "A History Of Loneliness" - by John Boyne

Answer: Being Irish

Like the author's first novel "The Thief of Time", this story zig-zags between distant past, present, recent past, distant past, and so forth. It starts in 2001 when Father Yates is visiting his sister and her teenaged son for dinner. His sister Hannah is only 43 yet she seems to be losing her mind. She keeps calling out for her husband who died a year ago. Odran's nephew Jonas confides that she is behaving more and more oddly. Odran himself is a good man who tries to help people; the ideal priest, a trustworthy man. Unfortunately, he now finds himself in an era where a lot of Catholic priests are proven far from trustworthy. This leads to growing prejudice, which affects him soon.

From Quiz "Crippen" - by John Boyne

Answer: John Robinson

The story begins in Antwerp in 1910, as a group of strangers prepare to board the SS Montrose, bound for Canada. Among them are the talkative Mrs. Drake and her promiscuous daughter Victoria, the Robinsons (a father and his son), and several others whose lives also change during this crossing. The dialogue in this story is frequently superb and hilarious. N.B. Later it turns out John Robinson's real name is "Dr. Crippen", and Edmund Robinson's real name is "Ethel".

From Quiz "The Thief of Time" - John Boyne

Answer: 1743

Matthieu was born in Paris. He did not have the happiest of childhoods. His parents worked in the acting industry and his father was murdered when he was four. His mother eventually married another actor and Matthieu gained a little half-brother named Tomas. But their mother was murdered by her new husband five years later. After he was executed, the brothers left Paris to start a new life. Naturally Matthieu had no idea just how long that life would be.

From Quiz "The Congress of Rough Riders" - John Boyne

Answer: Buffalo Bill

William Cody was born in the Wild West in 1846 and became famous as he grew older. Nowadays he's better known as "Buffalo Bill", the seasoned wild west adventurer who founded a circus. "Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World" it was called. John Boyne does a marvelous job of portraying the Wild West, and Buffalo Bill's life across the lawless frontier.

From Quiz "Next of Kin" - by John Boyne

Answer: He has white hair

For 20 years Owen Montignac has lived with his uncle Peter and family. They live in Leyville, the family estate. The family are very rich and old-fashioned. Normally Leyville and its wealth and estates are passed to the eldest son. But Owen's grandfather disinherited his eldest son Henry, Owen's father. Henry fell in love with a French girl and eloped to France with her. Then the rest of the family severed ties. They only had one son, who became an orphan at five after both parents were killed in the war in 1916. His uncle Peter kindly took the boy to England to live. Now 25, Owen's hair is still as white as it was the day he arrived.

From Quiz "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" by John Boyne

Answer: In the Jewish camp they wore outfits looking like striped pyjamas

"The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" leads us through the life of a 9 year old boy, Bruno, living at Auschwitz, a camp for the Jews during World War II. Living in Berlin prior to that, Bruno's father was a SS officer (highly ranked); after being visited by Adolf Hitler (referred to as 'The Fury' in the novel), he is promoted to Commandant and shifted to Auschwitz as the boss along with his family.

From Quiz "Stay Where You Are And Then Leave" - John Boyne

Answer: World War One

Alfie was born in 1909 and turns five on July 28th 1914. He is having an enjoyable birthday party arranged by his parents Margie and Georgie. His granny and the neighbours are there too, but nobody seems very happy. Alfie cannot understand why. Grown-ups keep talking about a place called "France". But then Georgie decides to "volunteer". Alfie has no idea what that means, but the next day his mother and Granny are suddenly in tears. Georgie is shipped off to an Army camp a few weeks later. Then he leaves for something grown-ups keep calling "The Western Front."

From Quiz "The House of Special Purpose" - John Boyne

Answer: Grand Duke Nicholas

In 1915, The Great War has been raging across Europe for nearly a year. Georgy is 16, and there are two Nicholases in the Russian Royal Family. The Tsar (Emperor) Nicholas II and his cousin The Grand Duke - commander of the army. One day, Georgy saves the latter Nicholas' life. The Grand Duke and his entourage are marching through Georgy's hometown Kashin. The villagers gather on the side of the road and cheer the military procession, but not all villagers are pro-monarchy. For generations, resentment has grown in Russia against the autocratic Tsars. In 1915 it is worse - many commoners are poor, hungry and tired of watching their sons go off to fight German and Austria-Hungary - never to return. One such person is Georgy's best friend. He pulls out a gun to murder the Grand Duke, but Georgy jumps forward to stop him. His shoulder takes the bullet instead - and the would-be assassin is hanged. When Georgy awakens at home, the Grand Duke himself is there. He tells Georgy he will be coming with him to St Petersburg the capital. Most of Georgy's family are indifferent to the fact that their only son and brother is off to serve the Tsar. Georgy knows his life will never be the same again. But he has been bestowed a great honour! However, he is sad his friend is dead, and he inappropriately feels guilty.

From Quiz The Boy At The Top Of The Mountain

Answer: Bruno from "The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas"

At the French orphanage Pierrot receives an unexpected letter. His father's long-lost sister Beatrix has heard what happened, and wants her nephew to come live with her in Austria! Pierrot is glad to be leaving the orphanage. He has few friends and gets bullied a lot - by a Jewish boy no less, which helps fuel Pierrot's later antisemitism. Pierrot has to travel alone, taking no less than three trains. Before he boards the final train to Austria at Munich, a man in a Nazi uniform smirks and stands on the poor boy's hand. He stops when his wife Elsa appears with their baby son Bruno. (Bruno's father Ralf eventually becomes commandant of the concentration camp in "The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas". Ralf's family move there when Bruno is eight.) Poor Pierrot meets another antagonist from that story on the train. Kurt Kotler is now a member of the Hitler youth and he and his friends help themselves to Pierrot's sandwiches.

From Quiz "Crippen" - by John Boyne

Answer: Matthieu Zela from "The Thief of Time"

Matthieu Zela is immortal, for lack of a better word. He was born in 1743 and, for reasons unknown, stopped aging before the end of the 18th century. He occasionally appears in his creator's other novels as a supporting character. In this story he booked the luxury liner's presidential suite (easy enough - he's vastly wealthy thanks to saving up for generations!) and is sailing with his new "nephew" Tom DuMarquee. Tom is in fact descended from Matthieu's half-brother Tomas who was killed 140 years ago trying to rob a bank. But unlike the DuMarquees, Matthieu is a nice guy, one who's seen a lot of the world and life and often intervenes in times of trouble. On this cruise he prevents Crippen from throwing Tom overboard one night. Tom had been threatening Crippen's "son" Edmund with a knife (and, had he learned Edmund was in fact a woman, it probably would have been worse), but Matthieu intervenes and explodes at Tom in their suite. Everyone concerned is grateful to the enigmatic passenger. Several weeks later, Matthieu's jaw drops when he reads in a Canadian newspaper who "Mr. Robinson" really was. How could that nice quiet fellow kill his wife and chop her up into little bits and pieces? Matthieu can't believe it. But, as it turns out, he may be right.

From Quiz This House is Haunted

Answer: Norfolk

After her father's passing, Eliza was only afforded minimal time for grief. Shortly after the funeral, she was surprised when she was forced to leave her house; her father had been renting the location without her knowing, supporting them alone. The evening she learned this, she read an article in 'The Morning Post' about a governess position at Gaudlin Hall advertized by an H Bennet. On an impulse, she quit her teaching job to pursue her new venture. Taking the train out of Liverpool she rode into the dense fogs of Norfolk, getting stuck on the train platform, unable to see her way out of the station. During this time she walked into a woman (coincidentally with the initials HB) and nearly fell onto the tracks in front of an oncoming train, feeling as though she'd been pushed. She was saved by a Mr. Alex Toxley, who'd been nearby with his wife, Madge. Shortly after this meeting, she was picked up by the gruff caretaker, Heckling. On the way to Gaudlin Hall, Eliza learned very little of her arrangement. Evidently, the estate was being cared for by a lawyer, Mr. Raisin, who lived in town. H Bennet was not the owner, but the former governess who both advertized the job and, as it seemed, got on the train after Eliza's arrival; she bumped into her at the station unknowingly. There would be no master awaiting her at Gaudlin Hall.

From Quiz "The Congress of Rough Riders" - John Boyne

Answer: He's a decendant

William Cody was born in London on January 1st 1970. His father Isaac (named after his great-grandfather, Buffalo Bill's father) married a much younger woman and seven months later they had William. Isaac decided to name the child after HIS great-grandfather; it seemed logical. Young William barely remembers his mother; she eloped with the family GP in 1974. As he grew people often took Isaac to be his grandfather, due to the 52-year age gap. Isaac is an ex-jailbird who runs a decorating business. In his spare time he tells his only son about their famous ancestor. So Young William grows up listening to enthralling tales about Indian raids, Civil War battles, the Pony Express, and of course the unforgettable "Congress of Rough Riders" circus.

From Quiz "Next of Kin" - by John Boyne

Answer: His uncle's

It is 1936. England has a new king, and a well-known rich aristocrat named Peter Montignac has died. At the funeral Owen gives a very moving eulogy. Several guests are moved to tears. Owen has probably rehearsed his words beforehand and tried to sound as distraught as possible, since he's expecting to inherit his uncle's money. However, he has a shock coming.

From Quiz "Mutiny On The Bounty" - by John Boyne

Answer: Captain's steward/Cabin-boy

The real cabin-boy on the Bounty was called John Smith. According to this story he got injured before the ship was due to set sail and our John is offered his job at the last minute. Since he was about to spend a long time in prison with an aggressive cell-mate, he understandably accepts. He hasn't the faintest idea what this job is, nor even where this "Bounty" is supposed to be sailing to. He knows his patron Mr. Lewis will be furious when he finds out where he's gone. But at least he won't be able to touch him at sea. (Later it's revealed Lewis doesn't just train the boys under his roof to pick pockets. They're expected to cater to the whims of visiting "gentlemen" who take them upstairs. Poor John.)

From Quiz "The Absolutist" - by John Boyne

Answer: Her brother had told her Tristan was killed in the war

Upon returning to England after November 11th 1918 one of the first things Tristan did was try to contact his late friend Will's family. He told Marion in his first letter he wanted to meet her to return letters she had sent Will - but it seems there is an ulterior motive. At first he doesn't get a reply, but Marion eventually responds. She confesses she is surprised to hear from her late brother's friend Tristan. Will had written that he'd been killed as soon as they arrived in France! Tristan assumes Will lied about that because he was ashamed of their love-making prior to leaving England. Afterwards the two boys remained firm friends in the trenches, though Will preferred to forget that for a short time they were more than friends.

From Quiz The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Answer: Bruno

The book begins with the boy discovering that his belongings are being packed by the family's maid. He is distressed to find someone going through his things, and discovers from his mother that the whole family is moving from Berlin. The other three names belong to his friends, who are described as 'friends for life', although he begins to forget them in his new home.

From Quiz John Boyne's "Ladder To The Sky"

Answer: Germany

Erich was a non-combat army clerk during WW2, so he had no blood on his hands (or so we think). He has had some success as an author, before joining Cambridge University as an English teacher. In 1988 he's back in his native Berlin (West Berlin - the famous Berlin Wall still exists) doing a book tour. Then he meets young Maurice Swift, who also wants to be an author. Maurice is an English waiter who recognises Erich, and says he's a big fan. Erich develops a crush on this young man straight away. He offers him a job as his assistant. Erich has been asked to give speeches in West Berlin, New York, Madrid, Rome and Paris. If this young man comes along and organises Erich's flights, hotels, etc, he will be well paid. But as it turns out, money is not what motivates Maurice.

From Quiz The Boy At The Top Of The Mountain

Answer: Pieter

His aunt think it wise, because her "employer" dislikes French people. It turns out Aunt Beatrix is housekeeper of a large property in the mountains, known as the "Berghof". When Pierrot arrives the staff are told to make him feel welcome. He settles in, wondering why everyone looks so nervous when someone mentions The Master. Pierrot has no idea that the name of this mysterious owner of the Berghof will go down in history.

From Quiz "A History Of Loneliness" - by John Boyne

Answer: Wexford

When Odran arrives at his seminary in 1973, he is assigned a cell-mate, as all boys are - for the next seven years. Tom is very quiet and obviously unhappy about being forced to join the faith. Odran forms a friendship with Tom which lasts for almost 40 years, but Odran never suspects for a minute what sort of person Tom will turn into.

From Quiz This House is Haunted

Answer: Isabella & I

When Eliza arrived at Gaudlin Hall she was not met by the owners per se, but two small children, Isabella and Eustace, a brother and sister. Discussing matters with them, she discovered that the financial side of the estate was cared for by a Mr. Raisin in town, and the only two other people to visit were Heckling and the cook, Mrs. Livermore, who also lived in town. Through all of this, the kids seemed a bit too intellectual. When she headed to bed, Eliza thought that she may have been touched by a spirit, but she calmed down and fell asleep. The next morning, despite the events the night before, Eliza awoke refreshed. Heading down for breakfast, she just missed someone who must've been Mrs. Livermore heading out the back door, but she seemed to have disappeared around a corner. Heading back inside, she was surprised by Eustace, who showed her to a seemingly inedible breakfast made by Isabella. When Eliza noted that she didn't have an appetite, Isabella rebutted with the comment that she didn't know how governesses stayed alive....something that Eustace was bothered by. Leaving the children to themselves, Eliza decided to ride into town to meet with Mr. Raisin.

From Quiz "The Congress of Rough Riders" - John Boyne

Answer: The Pony Express

The Pony Express did not last very long, despite the good work of Bill and the other riders. The idea was for the riders to carry mail on horseback from Missouri to California. The outbreak of the civil war, plus withdrawal of funding ended the operation quite quickly. But at least it gave Bill the chance to see part of the Wild West before it became less wild. Afterwards he started scouting for General Custer and hunting buffalo, which earned him a new nickname.

From Quiz "Next of Kin" - by John Boyne

Answer: He has been cut out of the will entirely

All these years Owen assumed as eldest male he would inherit the estate denied to his father. Peter had a son named Andrew but he was tragically killed years ago in a hunting accident. Andrew and his sister Stella had always treated their younger cousin as a true brother. But now the money and land is actually going to Stella, Peter's only surviving child! (Stella's mother passed away so Stella is the last of her father's immediate family.) Owen is far from happy about this. Not least because he has huge debts he now won't be able to settle!

From Quiz "Mutiny On The Bounty" - by John Boyne

Answer: To procure breadfruit

The famous botanist Sir Joseph Banks convinced the crown that its numerous slave plantations needed a renewable source of food, e.g. breadfruit. If enough is brought back from the other side of the world, there will be an unlimited supply of food for all slaves. A relatively-new commander in the Royal Navy named Lt. William Bligh is given the assignment. He will spend the next year or so sailing to the tropical paradise of Otaheite, procuring its breadfruit, then sailing to Jamaica. Nowadays Otaheite is known as "Tahiti".

From Quiz "The Absolutist" - by John Boyne

Answer: His father literally threw him out

As it happens his sister DID die of a fever, but he didn't find out until much later. We get to see many flashbacks of Tristan's relatively-happy family life in the 1900-10s. His father was the local butcher and it was a nice town to grow up in. However when Tristan became a teenager he found himself more attracted to boys than girls. No one had told him the world was hugely prejudiced against that. So when he tried to kiss his best friend, the school informed his father, and within 24 hours his father disowned him, badly beat him and threw him out, telling him never to come back. Tristan finally returns, once his army training is over and he's about to ship out to France. His father is not pleased to see him; in those days it was shameful to have a homosexual child. Tristan is angry no one wrote to tell him of his sister's death. His father, although he only has one child left, simply looks at his son and says "Tristan, it would be better if you never returned from France."

From Quiz The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Answer: Fury

Early in the book, we discover that the family's departure from Berlin is a direct result of the visit of the Führer as the boy's father has been given a new job. Later in the book, more details about the visit are revealed, with the boy describing that Eva Braun had treated him kindly.

From Quiz "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" by John Boyne

Answer: Pavel

Pavel stutters and limps while he directs Bruno to the shed containing tyres. Bruno wonders why the soldier yelled at Pavel so cruelly, Pavel was a nice person towards Bruno. Has he done something wrong? After applying the finishing touches to his swing, Bruno hops on it and tries to stand up. But he falls, scraping his leg on the grass. Pavel hurries forward to him, helps him inside and bandages Bruno's leg, managing to hush the child despite his pleas of dying. Just then, Bruno's mother walks in, stopping sharply at the sight of the bandage. She asks what happened to Bruno, and he replies that he scraped his leg, but Pavel has fixed it. As Bruno walks up the stairs to his bedroom he hears his mother telling Pavel that, if anyone asks, she did it.

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