Opening Lines from British Books Quiz

Answer: Brideshead Revisited

"Brideshead Revisited" was written by Evelyn Waugh during the period
December 1943 to June 1944 during which time he was recovering from an injury sustained whilst parachuting during his military service. The book was published in 1945. The story is told from the perspective of Charles Ryder and narrates the fortunes of the various members of the "Marchmain" family who he becomes involved with, following his initial friendship with the son of the household, Sebastian, who he meets at Oxford University.

Answer: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

There are eight books in John Le Carre's "Smiley" series of which "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" is the fifth. John Le Carre is the pen name for David John Moore Cornwell who himself served as a member of the British Foreign Service from 1959 to 1964. There have been many adaptations of the Smiley books for radio, television and the cinema.

Answer: My Cousin Rachel

An interesting fact regarding the novel "My Cousin Rachel" is that exactly the same sentence is used to both open and close the story. The novel itself is a gothic tale of mystery and jealousy. At the end of the novel the reader is still left wondering whether the character of Rachel was guilty or innocent of murder.

When questioned about this, du Maurier always said that "she simply did not know."

Answer: The Day of the Triffids

John Wyndham was born on 10 July, 1903 and was first published in the early 1930s. Although a prolific writer, he first came to public prominence following the publication of "The Day of the Triffids" in 1951. This book was closely followed by "The Kraken Wakes" (1952), "The Chrysalids" (1955) and "The Midwich Cuckoos" (1957).

Other books in the same apocalyptic vein continued to be produced.

Answer: Return of the Native

Written whilst living in Sturminster Newton, "Return of the Native" was published in 1878 in twelve monthly instalments in the magazine "Belgravia."
Egdon Heath, which is frequently personalised and often referred to as a main character of the novel, was a name Hardy made up for the actual stretch of heathland which runs from Brockhampton, in the county of Hampshire, to Poole Harbour, in the county of Dorset. This area in reality forms part of the Studland Heath National Nature Reserve.

Answer: Birdsong

"Birdsong" is Sebastian Faulks' fourth novel and the second in the French trilogy set. The first book in the trilogy is "The Girl at the Lion d'Or" and the third "Charlotte Gray". The trilogy is not set in chronological order and each can be read independently of the other.

The working title for "Birdsong" was "Flesh and Blood". The book was first published in hardback by Hutchinson in 1993.

Answer: Jane Eyre

"Jane Eyre" was the second novel to be written and submitted to the publishers by Charlotte Bronte, but the first to be published in 1847. The first novel she wrote, "The Professor", was based upon her experiences whilst living and teaching in Belgium. Initially rejected, it was finally published in 1853.

Answer: Enduring Love

Published in 1997, "Enduring Love" was Ian McEwan's seventh novel. The story explores the themes of love, faith and obsession. The book was adapted for the cinema in 2004 and the film starred Daniel Craig as Joe, Rhys Ifans as Jed and Samantha Morton as Claire (Clarissa in the novel).

Answer: Sense and Sensibility

Originally given the working title "Elinor and Marianne", the Jane Austen novel, "Sense and Sensibility" was first published in three volumes in 1811. The original publication did not show the name of the author as Jane Austen, but went under her pseudonym, "By a Lady". Jane Austen died in 1817 and is buried in Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire, England.

Answer: Women in Love

"Women in Love" is the sequel to the novel "The Rainbow". Originally the two novels were to be published as one book, but Lawrence's publisher separated them into two. The novels deal with the lives of the Brangwen sisters, Ursula and Gudrun. At the time the novels were published, the subjects included in the text would have been seen to be controversial, with vivid descriptions of a sexual nature and other daring topics discussed.