Politicians who did a bit of Writing. Multiple Choice Quiz | Literature

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This Prime Minister led Britain during World War II, and he also subsequently won a Nobel Prize for Literature. Can you identify him?

Answer: Sir Winston Churchill

Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1953 for his historical and biographical works, including his "A History of the English-Speaking Peoples". Churchill made a living from writing for most of his adult life. He was a journalist, biographer and historian.

Neville Chamberlain was the Prime Minister at the beginning of the war. Churchill replaced him in 1940. Stanley Baldwin was the Prime Minister during the Abdication crisis. Rudyard Kipling was a prolific author of books such as "The Jungle Book". He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907.

2. Which American politician, with an amphibian nickname, was the 58th Speaker of the House of Representatives, and has also published books such as "Rediscovering God in America", and alternative history fiction including "Gettysburg: A Novel of the Civil War"?

Answer: Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich was also a Republican Presidential candidate in the 2012 election. He served as Speaker between 1995-1999. He is a prolific author of both fiction and non fiction.

James Baker has served Presidents Reagan and George W Bush as Secretary of the Treasury and Secretary of State. I made up the others.

3. Which British MP became Baron Tweedsmuir and was the Governor General of Canada from 1935 until 1940? He is best known for "The 39 Steps".

Answer: John Buchan

John Buchan was born in Scotland in 1875 and went on to become an author, soldier, lawyer and politician. He is most famous for his "Richard Hannay" novels including the "39 Steps".

HG Wells was not a politician but he wrote many Science Fiction novels including the "Time Machine". Lord Beaverbrook was a Canadian businessman and newspaper proprietor born William Maxwell Aitkin. Ramsay Macdonald was the first Labour Prime Minister in Britain.

4. Which Irish playwright, who wrote "The Rivals" and "School for Scandal", was also an MP for over 30 years and was the Secretary of the Navy 1806 - 1807?

Answer: Richard Brinsley Sheridan

Sheridan was born in Dublin but moved to England when he was a child. He was a successful writer, theatre owner and politician but spent the last few years of his life in poverty.

William Shakespeare was an Elizabethan dramatist, as was Christopher Marlowe. John Webster was a Jacobean dramatist.

5. Which British Conservative politician had to resign as an MP, but saved himself from bankruptcy by writing the best seller "Not a Penny More Not a Penny Less"?

Answer: Jeffrey Archer

Jeffrey Archer has had to resign from political office twice, and he was jailed for 4 years in 2001 for perjury and perverting the course of justice. His novels include "Kane and Abel" and "First Among Equals".

John Major was Prime Minister 1990 - 1997. Willie Whitelaw served under Margaret Thatcher as Home Secretary and as her Deputy. Lord Carrington was Foreign Secretary under Margaret Thatcher until he resigned in 1982 because of the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands.

6. Which flamboyant 19th century British Prime Minister also wrote novels such as "Sybil" and "Coningsby"?

Answer: Benjamin Disraeli

Benjamin Disraeli was Britain's first Prime Minister of Jewish descent. He was Prime Minister in 1868 and again from 1874 until 1880. He wrote many novels from his early twenties up until his death in 1881.

William Gladstone was a Liberal - he was Prime Minister three times. Robert Peel served as Prime Minister twice and also founded the Metropolitan Police Force in 1829. Margaret Thatcher was not a politician in the 19th century.

7. Which former Vice President of the United States has written books about climate change?

Answer: Al Gore

Al Gore was Vice President to Bill Clinton from 1993 until 2001. He ran unsuccessfully against George W Bush in the 2000 election. He has received a number of awards for his work on raising awareness of environmental issues including a Nobel Prize and a Grammy.

Dan Quayle was Vice President to George H W Bush 1989 - 1993. Mitt Romney was the unsuccessful presidential candidate against President Obama in 2012. Sarah Palin was the Governor of Alaska and a prominent member of the Tea Party.

8. Which former US President has written books on issues such as mental illness, and a novel about the Revolutionary War?

Answer: Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter has worked tirelessly for humanitarian causes since he left the presidency. He and his wife have written over 20 books.

Ronald Reagan served two terms as President. Gerald Ford was Vice President to Richard Nixon and he became President after Nixon's resignation. Richard Nixon served two terms as President, but had to resign during the second term as a result of the Watergate scandal.

9. Which author of "House of Cards" was a British Conservative MP and served as Chief of Staff for the Conservative Party under Margaret Thatcher and Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party under John Major?

Answer: Michael Dobbs

Michael Dobbs has written a number of political thrillers. The most famous are The trilogy "House of Cards", "To Play the King" and "The Final Cut". This was made into a BBC series and a film starring Kevin Spacey.

Tony Blair was Prime Minister from 1997 until 2007. Gordon Brown was Prime Minister 2007 - 2010. Anne Widdecombe was an MP from 1987 until 2010.

10. Which infamous German leader wrote "Mein Kampf"?

Answer: Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler was the leader of Nazi Germany from 1933 until 1945.

Angela Merkel is the current German leader. Kaiser Wilhem II ruled Germany 1888 - 1918. Heinrich Himmler was a chicken farmer and head of the SS.

Source: Author bzjane2

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
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Politicians who did a bit of Writing. Quiz

It's surprising how many people who are famous as politicians have also dabbled in writing. Can you identify them?

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