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Waiting for the Day Trivia Quiz

A quiz on Leslie Thomas' extremely readable novel "Waiting for the Day", first published in 2004.

A multiple-choice quiz by huw27. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
huw27

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
294,512

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
144

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What is "the Day" referred to in the title? Hint

Christmas Day

D Day

Easter

VE Day

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Question 2 of 10

2. One of the key characters in the novel is Harris; what are his/her given forenames? Hint

Neville Adrian

Dwight Eldrick

Enid

Jock Gordon

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Question 3 of 10

3. How many years younger than Harris is Enid? Hint

She is older than Harris

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Question 4 of 10

4. How many fingers does Cook Sergeant Weber have on his right hand? Hint

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Question 5 of 10

5. What is the name of Weber's trusty Italian companion? Hint

Fred

Luigi

Gino

Michael

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Question 6 of 10

6. Although it is never explicitly stated in the novel, in what branch of the forces does Paget serve? Hint

Secret Service

Navy

Artillery

FANY's

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Question 7 of 10

7. From where does Lieutenant Miller hail originally? Hint

Edinburgh

Auckland

Oxford

Dakota

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Question 8 of 10

8. Lieutenant Miller has a torrid affair with an Englishwoman, Kathleen; what is her profession? Hint

Teacher

Army driver

Actress

it is never stated

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Question 9 of 10

9. One of our heroes gets killed before the end of the novel; which one? Hint

Harris

Miller

Paget

Weber

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Question 10 of 10

10. In what branch of the services did the author, Leslie Thomas, serve? Hint

Regular Army

Air Force

Navy

Secret Services

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is "the Day" referred to in the title?

Answer: D Day

The novel deals with the six months preceding D Day in June 1944, through the eyes of its various protagonists.

2. One of the key characters in the novel is Harris; what are his/her given forenames?

Answer: Neville Adrian

Sergeant Harris is known to his wife, Enid, as simply "Harris" - as she doesn't like either of his given names.

3. How many years younger than Harris is Enid?

Answer: 10

Enid is quite "flighty" - although nothing is explicitly stated, there is constant inference to her "entertaining" of other gentlemen whilst her husband is away training.

4. How many fingers does Cook Sergeant Weber have on his right hand?

Answer: 1

Weber lost all but the middle finger on his right hand because of frostbite on the Russian Front. Nevertheless, he is a seemingly very able cook - and a very successful fisherman.

5. What is the name of Weber's trusty Italian companion?

Answer: Gino

Gino was the chief steward at the German Officer's mess on Jersey, having previously worked in Bristol and at the Savoy in London. He is Weber's fishing companion, and the two planned on opening a restaurant together after the war ended.

6. Although it is never explicitly stated in the novel, in what branch of the forces does Paget serve?

Answer: Secret Service

At the beginning of the novel, Paget's involvement in the war is almost incidental, and it isn't until well into the latter stages that we realise he is in fact a secret agent.

7. From where does Lieutenant Miller hail originally?

Answer: Dakota

Lieutenant Miller was an American air force training officer, preparing for the airborne landings.

8. Lieutenant Miller has a torrid affair with an Englishwoman, Kathleen; what is her profession?

Answer: Actress

Kathleen is rather flighty, continuously lying, and reveals quite a torrid past as the novel progresses. She says that she's married to an actor, who has a part in a play called "Soldiers in Skirts". According to her, he is "one of them" - implying that he prefers men in skirts to women. But with Kathleen, we never know what is true and what is just a creation of her vivid imagination.

9. One of our heroes gets killed before the end of the novel; which one?

Answer: Miller

Miller is killed when his aeroplane is shot down over occupied territory. Paget is severely injured, but survives the war,and marries his childhood sweetheart, Margaret. Harris stays in the Army, and we are told that he is killed in Korea in 1951. Weber returns to Germany, and never sees Gino again.

10. In what branch of the services did the author, Leslie Thomas, serve?

Answer: Regular Army

Thomas did his Military Service as a regular soldier in Malaysia after the Second World War - and his best known book, "The Virgin Soldiers", is based loosely on these experiences. As well as his slightly more serious wartime books, Thomas is also a highly successful comedic writer .

Source: Author huw27

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor MotherGoose before going online.
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