Jilly Cooper- 'Appassionata' Trivia Quiz

Answer: Cut the nerves in her wrist

Abigail Rosen is a world famous violin performer. Christopher Shepherd has managed every part of her life since she was 12 years old and she is dependent on him. She realises he has been just using her for financial profit for his agency. By cutting her wrist, she stops that.

However, she is still tied to the agency who decide that, as she can not earn money for them as a soloist, she must retrain as a conductor.

Answer: Sir Rodney Mackintosh

Abigail Rosen spends three years in Lucerne recovering and learning the basics of conducting an orchestra. She then signs up to do a conducting course at the Royal Academy of Music.

Answer: Marcus Campbell-Black and Flora Seymour

Marcus Campbell-Black is the son of Rupert-Campbell Black (who has appeared in every book in the series) and Helen, who marries Sir Roberto Rannaldini. Flora Seymour is the daughter of a famous singer, Georgie Macguire. Rannaldini has a serious grudge against Marcus's father. (See 'The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous'). Marcus, Abby and Flora become good friends and move into a cottage together.

Answer: Victor (Viking) O'Neill

Viking, his dog Mr Nugent and Dixie, Blue and Randy share a cottage called 'The Bordello'. They pride themselves on being the main disruptive influence in the orchestra. They are known as the Celtic Mafia.

Answer: The orchestra resent being given orders by a woman.

Orchestra conductors are usually male. This particular orchestra has a lot of chauvinistic male members who resent being given orders by a woman. The orchestra are also greatly underpaid, demoralised and worried about their jobs due to Arts Council cuts.

There is no communication between the orchestra and the management board. There are two orchestras in the area and there is a rumour that the Arts Council are thinking about merging them or closing one of them down.

Answer: Peggy and Sonny Parker

After persistently and repeatedly trying to persuade Abigail Rosen to wear one of her hideous dresses, Peggy Parker offers to give £100,000 to the orchestra who are booked to play at her birthday concert. The conditions are that her store will 'redesign' Abigail Rosen for the event and that her son's unmelodious 'Eternal Triangle' composition is part of the programme.

The orchestra need the money so Abby is forced to make a fool of herself.

Answer: Alexei Nemorovsky

Abigail Rosen persuades Alexei Nemorovsky and his partner, who are famous Russian ballet dancers, to dance at the orchestra's centenary concert. Abby and Marcus Campbell-Black have been having an affair but it is only when Marcus sees Alexei dance that he realises he is gay and falls madly in love. He does not tell Abby.

Answer: For having a wild party in a jacuzzi

The orchestra are exhausted after playing concerts in six different cities inside a week. The concert in Barcelona is special to them. Sir Rodney Mackintosh has recovered sufficiently to come from Lucerne and conduct the concert. Abigail Rosen is to play the violin in public for the first time since cutting her wrist. Sir Rodney manages the rehearsal but dies on his way to the concert. The orchestra perform the concert as a tribute then end up having a wild party in Abby's jacuzzi and flooding the rooms below.

Answer: Sir Roberto Rannaldini

Rannaldini has been trying to influence the orchestra management to agree to the merger. The orchestra have been booked to accompany contestants in a prestigious music competition - The Appleton - and Marcus Campbell-Black (Rannaldini's stepson) is a competitor.

When incriminating photographs of Abby and letters to Marcus from Alexei appear in the newspapers, Abby is sacked and vanishes. Marcus is rushed to hospital with a life-threatening asthma attack. Rannaldini sees his chance to take over the orchestra and also make sure that his chosen competitor - not Marcus - wins.

Answer: The orchestra won the lottery.

Despite all Rannaldini's efforts, Marcus manages to recover and win the Appleton. He then goes to Moscow and Alexei. After seeing Rannaldini's behaviour the orchestra board do not want him anywhere near the orchestra. However, without a massive cash injection, the orchestra will close.

In the nick of time, a weekly ticket bought in the name of John Drummond, the orchestra cat, wins the lottery. The orchestra realize they do actually like Abigail Rosen as their conductor and all go to Lucerne to bring her home.