The "Jalna" Novels Trivia Quiz

Answer: Canada

The books centre on the "Jalna" house and estate which are set by Lake Ontario. They start with a newly married couple building their house in 1854.
The Benares Historic House in Clarkson, Ontario is believed to have been the inspiration for "Jalna". Many streets in that area are named after characters in the books.

Answer: Jalna

"Jalna", published in 1927, is the seventh book in the series chronologically, but it was the first published. Most of the book were written out of chronological order, and the explanation for this was that Mazo de la Roche had her fantasy world and characters so well fixed in her mind she could write any particular period of their history at will.

Answer: Tombstones

All the names were taken from tombstones in Ontario's Newmarket cemetery. Due to frequent moves for her father's work Mazo de la Roche was a solitary child who developed her own fantasy world at a young age. "Jalna" gave her the stability and family that her own life lacked.

Answer: Whiteoak

Before becoming a famous author Mazo de la Roche lived for about five years in Sovereign House in Bronte. "Whiteoaks" is a term often used for the Oakville-Bronte area, and is probably where she took the name from.

Answer: He is a musical genius

Whilst his brothers and cousins are interested in outdoor pursuits Finch, from his youth, is interested in music and goes on to become a concert pianist. Whilst accepting that he is a musical genius this is not something that the other males in the family understand.

Answer: Building of Jalna

"Building of Jalna" was not published until 1944, but this is the book that details the building of "Jalna" by Adeline and Captain Whiteoak, as well as the ups and downs of their early married life.

Answer: One hundred

The books cover the period 1854 to 1954. "Centenary at Jalna", the last book in the series, was published in 1958, only three years before the death of the author.

Answer: Young Renny

Renny Whiteoak is head of the household throughout much of the series. "Young Renny", published in 1935, looks at some of his boyhood and the influences that shape him.

Answer: Adeline

We first meet Adeline as a young bride in "The Building of Jalna" and she continues to feature as the strong willed matriarch of the family until her death, at a grand old age, in the eighth book (chronologically). Even at the end she manages to cause a sensation by leaving her fortune to Finch.

Answer: Fake gold mine

"Whiteoak Brothers" published in 1953 sees Renny as head of the household with matriarch Adeline celebrating her 98th birthday. Most of this book concentrates on how the family deals with a reversal of fortunes following an investment in a fake gold mine.