The Endeavours of Colin Dexter Quiz

Answer: Inspector Morse

In the Morse book, "Death is Now My Neighbour", (1998) Dexter finally gives Morse a first name. We learn Morse's father was an admirer of Captain Cook.

Sergeant Robbie Lewis was Morse's faithful sidekick.
D.I. John Rebus is the creation of Ian Rankin.
Inspector Reginald Wexford is the creation of Ruth Rendell.

Answer: Oxford

Oxford was the setting for the Morse series of books, although Morse and Lewis officially work for 'Thames Valley Police'.
Dexter was born in Lincolnshire and received an Honorary Doctorate in Letters from Lincoln University in 2011.
His character Lewis was from Newcastle.

Answer: Diabetes

When Dexter was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes he used his experiences to have Morse also diagnosed. From being diagnosed in "Death is Now my Neighbour", (1996), to dying from complications due to diabetes in "The Remorseful Day", (1999), Morse struggled to control his diabetes due in main to alcohol consumption.

He is seen often faking his blood sugar readings in advance of hospital appointments.

Answer: General Studies Textbooks

As a Classics teacher, Dexter had a number of General Studies Textbooks published. These include "Liberal studies: An outline course (Commonwealth and internal library of science, technology, engineering and liberal studies. English series)" in 1964 and "Guide to contemporary politics, etc. With plates" in 1966.
In 2009 Colin Dexter authored the book 'Cracking Cryptic Crosswords', crosswords being a favourite pastime of both Dexter and Morse.

Answer: 13

Thirteen Inspector Morse novels were published between 1975 and 1999. Dexter killed off Morse, as a result of complications from his diabetes, in the 13th book, "The Remorseful Day", but did go on to write a short story for a newspaper, "Morse and the Mystery of the Drunken Driver", in December 2008.

Answer: Deafness

Deafness forced Colin Dexter to give up his teaching in favour of a job with the Oxford Delegacy of Local Examinations in Summertown in 1966. This job is also similar to the one the victim Nicholas Quinn has in the book.

Answer: Sherlock Holmes

"Morse's Greatest Mystery and Other Stories" (1993), includes eleven short stories, six of which feature Inspector Morse. In "A Case of Mis-Identity" Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson and Mycroft Holmes investigate the disappearance of a bridegroom.

Answer: Diogenes Small

Beginning with the second Morse novel, Colin Dexter used quotes as chapter headings. Dexter sometimes created these 'quotes' himself. He created Diogenes Small, supposedly an author of historical works, and his 'quotations' appeared in four books.

J.B. (Jessica) Fletcher is a T.V. sleuth and mystery writer.
Robert Briggs is a fictional creator created by Aldous Huxley.
Rosie M. Banks is a fictional romance novelist created by P.G. Wodehouse.

Answer: Last Bus to Woodstock

Colin Dexter hand wrote "Last Bus to Woodstock" during a rainy family holiday in Wales in 1972. In it he created the character Morse, named after Dexter's friend Sir Jeremy Morse, creator of Ximenes crossword in "The Observer".

Answer: A.E. Housman

A.E. Housman (1859 - 1936) is an English poet best known for 'The Shropshire Lad', a cycle of 63 poems. Dexter has often referenced his admiration for Housman. The line is from Poem XVI "How Clear, How Lovely Bright",

"Ensanguining the skies
How heavily it dies
Into the west away;
Past touch and sight and sound
Not further to be found,
How hopeless under ground
Falls the remorseful day."
May - A.E. Housman.