The Ultimate The Pelican Brief Quiz | Authors

Answer: Abraham Rosenberg

Abraham Rosenberg is a 91-year-old Supreme Court Justice. He is hated by most of the world: "Indians, whites, blacks, browns, tree lovers, gays, women, Christians, abortion activists, Aryans, Nazis, atheists, hunters, animal lovers, white supremacists, black supremacists, tax protestors, loggers, farmers" - they're all there.

In the opening paragraphs of the novel, all of these groups are protesting against Rosenberg.

Answer: John Runyan

John Runyan is the Chief Justice in the Supreme Court. Instead of being called Chief Justice, he prefers to be called just Chief.

Answer: Victor Mattiece

Victor Mattiece is a big-time oil speculator, who is willing to spend as much money as needed to hit the jackpot. He happened to come across a huge oil field in Louisianna, which just so happened to be the nesting grounds for an endangered species of pelican.

He and his oil rigs destroyed nearly all the marshlands and, in the process, the pelicans as well. When the verdict of the case against Mattiece came out in his favor, Justice Rosenberg tried valiantly, and succeeded, in overturning the case.

This, in turn, caused Mattiece to pay a very large sum of money to one known only as Khamel, who has very many disguises: one point in the story, he is a jogger; at another, he is a gay-movie-goer. And he is paid so much so that he could get rid of the two Democrats that were Justices of the Supreme Court.

This was succeeded, with only a couple of vague suspects from the FBI, never guessing that it could possibly be the ever-elusive Khamel, wanted in nine different countries.

Answer: False

No, this is not even remotely true. It started back in the late '60s to early '70s, when that was a major oil find in the southern reaches of Louisiana. Two of the killings were related to the case against Mattiece. THEN, a second-year law student wrote the fabulous brief.

Answer: Darby Shaw

Darby wrote a brief that she had thought to be a crock of garbage. But when her professor/lover read it, he insisted on giving it to his friend, who just happened to be an attorney for the FBI. This attorney, name Gavin Verheek, took the brief to his office, read it, re-read it, then had it copied and sent straight to Director Voyles.

This would ultimately prove to be the most fatal mistake made by anybody. The Director, Voyles, took the brief to the White House where he showed it to Fletcher Coal and the President.

The White House in turn gave it to the CIA. The CIA then followed the girl closely, and ultimately saved her in her time of greatest peril: they killed the famed Khamel.

Answer: Rupert

This is a false name given by someone in snakeskin boots. He follows Darby everywhere that he can and is spotted by her more than once. When she is in the office at the Washington Post, she sees him outside more than once, and each time in different guises.

Answer: Stump

Stump is a henchman, so to speak. Once he found Darby in Louisianna, and he chased her, right into a pack of wild Saints fans. They beat him badly, and he was finally let go, with a permanent limp.

Answer: Gray Grantham

Gray is a reporter who would do anything to get a good story. He is contacted by Darby, who agrees to meet with him in a certain location. Once this is done, they meet and she gives him information that would expose Mattiece's doings.

Answer: K.O. Lewis

K.O. Lewis is the agent who declines Grantham access to see Voyles. He periodically meets with the President when Voyles cannot.

Answer: False

This is not true. Although a couple of Grisham's books, such as "A Time to Kill" and "A Painted House", are based on true stories, this novel is purely fiction.