Lost and Found in Scotland Street Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. FOUND: Sports bag containing clove scented hair gel, rugby shirt and sporran. Which character should claim this?

Answer: Bruce Anderson

Bruce is a narcissistic young man who keeps himself fit. He is a keen rugby fan and on special occasions will wear a kilt (and thereby hangs a tale). Bruce shares a flat on the top floor of 44 Scotland Street with Pat Macgregor.

"44 Scotland Street" was first published as a serial novel, in the tradition of Charles Dickens, in "The Scotsman".

2. FOUND: Saxophone in case, small pair of Osh Kosh dungarees and well-read copy of "'Le Avventure del Piccolo Roberto". Which character would probably have preferred for these to remain lost?

Answer: Bertie Pollock

Bertie Pollock is only five years old but plays the saxophone ("As Time Goes By") and is fluent in Italian. His rebellion against his mother's high expectations of him results in visits to a psychotherapist. The Pollocks live at 44 Scotland Street on the floor below Bruce.

"The World According to Bertie" is the fourth title in the Alexander McCall Smith's "44 Scotland Street" series.

3. LOST: Black Collie, lop-sided ear, one gold tooth. Answers to the name of Cyril. Who would be devastated if his dog were not found?

Answer: Angus Lordie

Angus rescued Cyril from being put down because he was no good with sheep. Cyril enjoys a drop of beer but has a distressing tendency to bite ankles. Angus lives in Drummond Place and is a friend of Domenica Macdonald who lives at No. 44 Scotland Street.

Each of the novels in the "44 Scotland Street" series by Alexander McCall Smith ends with a dinner party at which Angus delivers a poetic offering which sums up some of the themes of the books.

4. LOST: Scuffed leather handbag containing half moon spectacles and a Mercedes-Benz keyring with keys. Who will be looking for these items?

Answer: Domenica Macdonald

Domenica lives on the top floor of 44 Scotland Street. She is an anthropologist and drives a custard-coloured Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC.

Domenica reappears in "Espresso Tales" the second volume in Alexander McCall Smith's "44 Scotland Street" stories of life set in Edinburgh.

5. FOUND: Valvona and Crolla carrier bag containing sun-dried tomatoes, tin of pink emulsion paint and a worn copy of "The Psychoanalysis of Children" by Melanie Klein. Who has mislaid this strange collection?

Answer: Irene Pollock

Irene often takes Bertie to Valvona and Crolla, a specialist food shop in Edinburgh. The pink emulsion paint was used on Bertie's bedroom, to his shame. Melanie Klein was an Austrian pioneer psychotherapist and the major influence in Irene's interactions with her son.

The third book in Alexander McCall Smith's stories of life in Scotland Street, Edinburgh is "Love Over Scotland".

6. FOUND: Suitcase containing letter from Galveston, Texas, photos of Arbroath and assorted women's clothing (larger sizes). Who arrived in Edinburgh with this suitcase?

Answer: Big Lou

Big Lou runs the coffee bar across the road from Matthew's art gallery. She hails from Arbroath and was involved with a oilman who left Aberdeen for Galveston, Texas. The coffee bar was formerly a bookshop and when Big Lou bought it, the books came too. She is steadily working her way through reading them.

The fifth book is the series is "The Unbearable Lightness of Scones", a reference to the "sturdiness" of Big Lou's scones.

7. LOST: Briefcase containing signed copy of "Shattered to pieces: ego dissolution in a three-year-old tyrant"; cord jacket; tie with small teddy-bear motif. Which character would like these items to be returned?

Answer: Dr Hugo Fairbairn

Dr Hugo Fairbairn is Bertie's psychotherapist but appears to relate more easily to his client's mother, Irene. The book is a report on Dr Fairbairn's work with "Wee Fraser". The doctor's clothes are often remarked on in this and subsequent books.

The doctor's home is speculated on by Irene but no definite location is given.

8. FOUND: Holdall containing pair of men's leather-soled brogues (hand made by Church's); copy of "Dictionary of Scottish Artists"; numerous till receipts from "The Morning After". Who will be glad to have these items returned?

Answer: Matthew Duncan

Matthew is the owner of "The Something Special" art gallery. His father owns the building in which it is situated and took it over in lieu of unpaid rent as something for the previously unsuccessful Matthew to do. "The Morning After" is the real name of Big Lou's coffee bar where Matthew spends rather too much time.

Matthew does not live in Scotland Street but employs Pat Macgregor who shares a flat with Bruce Anderson at no. 44.

9. LOST: Copy of "The Gondoliers" by Gilbert and Sullivan. Great sentimental value. Reward offered. Who would be anxious to see this again?

Answer: Ramsay Dunbarton

The highlight of Ramsay Dunbarton's life was his portrayal of the Duke of Plaza-Toro in an amateur production of this operetta. He somehow manages to bring it into every conversation. He performed at the Churchill Theatre which is a venue for amateur and "Fringe" performances. It is also referred to as the Church Hill Theatre and is located at 33 Morningside Road.

The "Scotland Street" stories include lots of information about real places in Edinburgh, and occasionally real people appear also. In the first book, Ian Rankin, the author of the "Rebus" books and Tam Dalyell, politician, make appearances.

10. LOST: Volvo car, 5 gears, round-ended door handles. If this car is parked near you, contact Box No. 1234. Which forgetful couple is missing a car?

Answer: Stuart and Irene Pollock

As the Pollocks rarely use their car and have no designated parking space, its actual location is quite often a mystery. Its whereabouts are revealed in the second book "Espresso Tales", in which the details of the description are also found.

If you have already read the book, I hope you have enjoyed the quiz. If you haven't, it would be nice to think you are now interested enough to find out more and maybe read it.

Source: Author bucknallbabe

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

The characters of Alexander McCall Smith's "44 Scotland Street" have been careless with their possessions. Can you get them back to their rightful owners?

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