Literary Lights from the Land of Pleasant Living Quiz

Answer: James M. Cain

James M. Cain (July 1, 1892 - October 27, 1977) was born in Baltimore, Maryland to an educator and an opera singer. Although, Cain initially desired to be a singer he lacked the level of talent necessary for establishing a professional career. Cain therefore turned his sights on becoming a journalist and subsequently contributed work to many newspapers and periodicals, such as, the "Baltimore Sun", the "Baltimore American", and the "New York World". As his career progressed he began to write screenplays, but only received professional credit for three of them. Finding more success as an author he became renowned for writing hard boiled crime novels. Among his most popular novels, which were also produced as major motion pictures are "The Postman Always Rings Twice" (1934), "Double Indemnity" (1943), and "Mildred Pierce" (1941).

Reference:

Wikipedia. "James M. Cain"

Answer: Thorne Smith

James Thorne Smith Jr.(March 27, 1892-June 21, 1934) wrote many humorous science fiction and fantasy tales, but is best known for those that were made into movies and television programs.

His books "Topper" (1926) and "Topper Takes a Trip" (1932) were made into three successful Hollywood movies (1937 - 1941) featuring such stars as Billie Burke and Cary Grant. In 1953, "Topper" also provided the basis for a successful television program of the same name starring Leo G. Carroll.

Another of Smith's books, "The Passionate Witch", was produced as the movie "I Married a Witch" (1942), which starred Veronica Lake and Frederick March. The subsequent television program "Bewitched" (1964 - 1972) starred Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stephens. The program was such a hit that the series continued to be popular even after Dick Sargeant replaced Dick York as Samantha's husband Darren (or as Endora would say, "Durwood, Darwin, or What's his name").

References:

Wikipedia. "Bewitched"

Wikipedia. "Thorne Smith"

Wikipedia. "Topper"

Answer: Tom Clancy

Thomas Leo "Tom" Clancy, Jr. was not only born in Maryland, but also attended the local colleges of Loyola Blakefield and Loyola College of Baltimore. Among his best selling pre and post Cold War espionage novels that have been produced as successful films are "The Hunt for Red October", "Patriot Games", "Clear and Present Danger", and "The Sum of All Fears". Clancy has also lent his name and endorsement to a series of ghost written nonfiction books and independently developed video games.

Reference:

Wikipedia. "Tom Clancy"

Answer: Dashiell Hammett

Although Dashiell Hammett (May 27, 1894 - January 10, 1961) left school at the age of 13 years old he was later able to secure a position with the Pinkerton National Detective Agency (1915-1922). Taking leave of absence from the Pinkerton Agency in order to serve in World War I he contracted both the Spanish flu and tuberculosis. It was during one of his hospitalizations in Tacoma, Washington that he met the nurse that would become his future wife, Josephine Dolan. This short lived marriage produced two children, but fell apart shortly after the couple were advised to minimize contact due to Hammett's tuberculosis.

Hammett then worked for a period in advertising, but eventually became an author of popular detective novels and short stories. These novels drew heavily on his experiences gained as a member of the Pinkerton Agency and included such classics as "The Dain Curse" (1929), "The Maltese Falcon" (1930), and "The Thin Man" (1934), which were all produced as major motion pictures. The "Thin Man" became Hammett's last novel as he shifted his focus from writing to political activism.

Hammett has the distinction of being a member of the American Communist Party (joined 1937), being blacklisted during the McCarthy era (1950's), but still being interred at Arlington National Cemetery after succumbing to the effects of lung cancer and a lifetime of alcoholism.

Reference:

Wikipedia. "Dashiell Hammett"

Answer: H. L. Mencken

Henry Louis "H. L." Mencken (September 12, 1880 - January 29, 1956) was born the son of a cigar manufacturer in Baltimore, Maryland. A prodigious reader and noted intellectual, Mencken worked for many years as a journalist for the "Baltimore Morning Herald" and "The Baltimore Sun". Later in his career he worked as a literary critic for "The Smart Set" magazine and was one of the founders and editors of influential "The American Mercury" magazine. Mencken's widespread interests are reflected in the diverse topics his books addressed which included: "George Bernard Shaw: His Plays" (1905), "The Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche" (1907), "In Defense of Women" (1918), and "The American Language" (1919). In 1981, controversy erupted when upon publication it became widely known that his diary contained what many found to be unexpected and inflammatory racist and anti-semitic passages.

References:

Teachout, Terry. "The Sceptic: A Life of H.L. Mencken", New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers/Harper Perennial, 2003.

Wikipedia. "H.L. Mencken"

Answer: Emily Post

Emily Price (October 27, 1872 - September 25, 1960) was the only child born to architect Bruce Price and his wife Josephine. Emily was homeschooled during her early years, but later attended Miss Graham's finishing school in New York. In 1892, Emily married banker Edwin Post and had two children Surprisingly, in light of social mores of the era, the couple divorced in 1905 due to Mr. Post's numerous infidelities.

After sending her sons off to boarding school following the divorce Mrs. Post began her career as an author. The topics of her newspaper columns, magazine articles, and books ranged from architecture, interior design, and travel to her well-known specialty of etiquette.

In 1946, she founded the Emily Post Institute, which continues to shine as a beacon for the socially conscious. The institute not only offers expert etiquette advice through publishing columns and books and providing seminars and workshops, but even provides representation and/or spokespersons for some corporations.

Reference:

Wikipedia. "Emily Post"

Answer: Upton Sinclair

Upton Beall Sinclair, Jr. (September 20, 1878 - November 25, 1968) was born to Baltimore liquor salesman Upton Beall Sinclair and his wife Patricia. Sinclair's childhood and future interests (e.g., social, political) and writings were heavily influenced by the contrast between his immediate family home and that of his wealthy grandparents.

Although having authored over 90 books and countless articles Sinclair is best known for his groundbreaking work, "The Jungle". This controversial book exposed countless abuses in the U.S. meat packing industry, which lead to the introduction of the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act.

Reference:

Wikipedia. "Upton Sinclair"

Answer: Parson Weems

Mason Locke Weems (October 11, 1759 - May 23, 1825) was theologically trained and ordained in the Episcopal Church. However, Weems typically played fast and loose with the truth and often created myths. His most infamous tale is that of George Washington chopping down a cherry tree as a child. After committing said deed Washington was depicted as making a clean breast of the situation to his father. It appears that, although Weems claimed that Washington could not tell a lie, he (Weems) had no compunction in doing so. This unsubstantiated tale is viewed by most historians as either an outright fabrication or at best an exaggeration of the facts.

Weems wrote several books of which the accuracy is questionable, but were instrumental in establishing the sterling reputations of some American founding fathers. The following list includes four of these works, but be advised that they provide a window into a different era and contain information that is questionable at best: "The Life of Washington" (1800), "Life of General Francis Marion" (1805), "Life of Benjamin Franklin, with Essays" (1817); and "Life of William Penn" (1819).

Reference:

Wikipedia. "Parson Weems"

Answer: John Waters

John Samuel Waters (born April 22, 1946) was born to a manufacturer of fire-protection equipment and his wife in Baltimore, Maryland, but grew up in the Maryland suburb of Lutherville. His lifelong friend and childhood neighbor was Glen Milstead who appeared in many of Waters' movies as the drag queen character "Divine".

The multitalented Waters has not only written screenplays and produced and directed many cult films, but has also worked as a stand-up comedian, visual artist, journalist, and author. Numbered among his thought provoking and always provacative books are "Crackpot: The Obsessions of John Waters" (2003), "Shock Value: A Tasteful Book About Bad Taste" (2005), and "Role Models" (2011).


Reference:

Wikipedia. "John Waters"

Answer: Leon Uris

Leon Marcus Uris (August 3, 1924 - June 21, 2003) was born in Baltimore, Maryland to a Polish immigrant father and a first generation Russian American mother. As a precocious child he wrote an operetta at the age of six as a tribute to the passing of his pet dog. However, although Uris attended schools in Maryland and Virginia he never earned a high school leaving certificate and is reputed to have failed English three times.

After serving in the Marine Corps in World War II Uris became a journalist, writing for newspapers and magazines. It was during this period he developed his first novel, "Battle Cry" (1953), which became a bestselling book and popular movie. Uris wrote many compelling novels during his career including "Exodus" (1958) and "Topaz" (1967), which were produced as major motion pictures. Furthermore, his work "QB VII" (1970) was produced as a television series and subsequently nominated for thirteen Emmy Awards of which it won six.

All in all, it makes you wonder what best selling books his English instructors may have authored ...

Reference:

Wikipedia. "Leon Uris"