A Very Apt Dinner Party Trivia Quiz

Answer: Grigori Rasputin

Grigori Rasputin, lover of the Russian Queen (according to Boney M), was an enigmatic character from Russian history who had a bewitching effect on the Russian royal family, the Romanovs. Rasputin supposedly had healing powers, which made him useful to Tsar Nicholas II's son Alexei, who suffered from haemophilia.

Many Russian nobles distrusted Rasputin and this may have contributed to the isolation of the Romanovs as autocratic rulers of Russia. This "Mad Monk" was certainly nuttier than a fruitcake.

Answer: Arnold Schwarzenegger

As well as "Arnie's" titles as "Mr. Olympia" his career as a bodybuilder also saw him win "Mr. Universe" in both the amateur and professional divisions. Schwarzenegger's first film was "Hercules in New York", clearly playing to his strengths (for want of a better word).

However, few can deny that Arnie's filmography is diverse, appearing in comedies, actions, sci-fis, and several other genres. Perhaps his best known performance was as the title character in the "Terminator" films. It is said that Arnie offered to dub over his own voice in the films for the German version of "Terminator", but was refused on the basis that his accent (he is Austrian) would sound too comical in Germany.

Answer: Roger Federer

Roger Federer is the epitome of a true sportsman and true gentleman. He is humble in defeat and gracious in victory. Federer is a Swiss tennis player who won his first Grand Slam title in 2003 at Wimbledon. It was at Wimbledon that he would dominate more than any other slam, winning the championship seven times between 2003 and 2012. On top of this, the unstoppable "Fed-express" racked up victories at all three other Grand Slam venues, with a total of 17 slams by August 2013.

Answer: Robert Peary

While Robert Peary claimed to have been the first man to reach the North Pole in 1909, Frederick Cook said he reached it just under a year previously. Controversy remains as to which of these American men really was the first. An undisputed and admirable feat is that of the first man to reach the North Pole solo and unsupported.

This was achieved by Borge Ousland of Norway in 1994. Perhaps I should save the Arctic roll for him.

Answer: Jeanette Winterson

"Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit" is a novel written by Jeanette Winterson which was published in 1985. It is a semi-autobiographical story of the growth and development of a lesbian girl. The title is perhaps a reference to the desire to impress on people that lesbians should not be overlooked when discussing the issue of gay equality. Jeanette Winterson became professor of creative writing at the University of Manchester in 2012.

Answer: Erwin Schrodinger

This is a reference to the famous Schrodinger's Cat thought experiment. This thought experiment stated that, if a cat were to be placed in a chamber (into which we could not see) with a poisonous gas which has a 50% chance of being released, thus killing the cat, we (as blind observers) would have to consider the cat to be both alive and dead. Only by opening the chamber and looking could we force one of these situations to become real - i.e. for the cat to be either dead or alive. Aside from making people's heads hurt and angering animal lovers, this thought experiment was an attempt to explain quantum superposition.

Answer: Aeschylus

In a book I bought a few years ago, it described the supposed death of Aeschylus as the most ridiculous death ever to have occurred. If ever a death could conceivably be found funny, this was it. It is said that an eagle carrying a turtle dropped said turtle, which hit Aeschylus on the head, ending his life.

It has been speculated since then that, if this story is true, the bird was most likely a lammergeyer. These birds (also known as bearded vultures) are known to drop bones onto rocks in order to split the bone and expose the rich marrow.

It is entirely possible that this bird mistook the bald head of Aeschylus for a rock.

Answer: Michel Lotito

The list of things in the question which Monsieur Lotito devoured is by no means exhaustive. He also ate 18 bicycles, 6 chandeliers, and a pair of skis. This rather bizarre entertainer died in 2007 at the age of 57.

Another curious character of history was William Buckland, a theologian, geologist and archaeologist. The unusual food he ate was not for show, but was instead part of a goal to eat at least one of every animal in existence. Buckland's house was full of live animals, including a bear which he dressed up in various different costumes. Aside from seal, gorilla and other exotic meats, Buckland was also known to indulge in faecal matter. He will not be receiving an invitation to the party.

Answer: Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815, during the so called Napoleonic Wars. His defeat at the 1815 battle of Waterloo marked the final stages of the war, which ended his rule over the French and saw him exiled to the island of Elba. Beef Wellington is named for the Duke of Wellington, commander of the British forces at the battle of Waterloo, and Chicken Marengo is named for the 1800 Battle of Marengo. Marengo was also the name of Napoleon's horse.

Answer: Jayne Mansfield

The rumours of this Hollywood sex symbol being a Satanist started after she visited the Church of Satan in San Francisco, and met the founder of the church, Anton LaVey. She was given the honorary title of "High Priestess of San Francisco's Church of Satan" and displayed her official membership, framed, in her home. Whether or not this was a publicity stunt remains unclear, though Anton LaVey's daughter stated that not only was Mansfield a practising member of the church, but she also had an affair with Anton LaVey.