- According to author Edna O"Brien which month is "wicked"?
- Perhaps he foresaw the current turmoil in USA financial circles caused by accounting malpractices but who, sounding as though he might be a sort of delinquent himself, wrote a long time ago: "Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes" ("But who is to guard the guards themselves")?
- What surname, pertinent to the above question you may feel, is shared by Tim, a former Olympic oarsman; Lee, a former rugby league international; and Garth, a former Spurs footballer?
- Which bird of the plover family derived its common name from the Anglo-Saxon word "hleapewince" (literally "leap" and "wink") which apparently describes its erratic flight during courtship?
- Which (British) Open golf champion shared his first name and surname with the 18th/19th century Scot who is principally remembered for his exploration of the source and course of the Niger river?
- In the history of Hollywood which child actor had earned a million dollars from film fees by the earliest age?
- And which three word French phrase implies that a person has so much money that they don't know what to do with it?
- Before Mount McKinley was discovered how tall in feet was the highest mountain in North America? (Any answer within 100 feet either way will be fine!)
- * Egri Bikaver, probably better known as "Bull's Blood", is a table wine produced in which European country?
- In a word, what links William Conrad, Samile Diane Friesen, Thomas Derbyshire and "Peter B Clifford"?
- Sam Marx and "Minnie" Schoenberg's youngest son, born in 1901, had the real first name Herbert but became much better known as "Zeppo". What was the real first name of their first born son?
- Which seven letter word, derived from the greek for to "lessen", is an understatement used for rhetorical effect such as "Bradman was no mean batsman" or "Churchill was not a little dismayed"?
- Which great cricketer who scored 286 in under three hours in a first class match in 1903 was nicknamed "The Croucher"?
- * Which Queen lost her head as a result of affairs she had with Thomas Culpepper, Francis Dereham and Henry Mannock among others?
- Where, specifically, could you have seen Dickie Bird, Dame Kin Te Kanawa, Martin Keown, Jason Leonard, Alistair McGowan, Sally Phillips, Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Barry Robson more or less all together on 29 July this year?
- Produced and directed by Hugh Hudson this 1980's film had a stellar cast which included Cheryl Campbell, lan Charleson, Nigel Davenport, Nicholas Farrell and Ian Holm. As he is best known, what is the name of the person who composed the film's musical score?
- Which two letters, very familiar in another context, continue this particular sequence in a certain district in London
R KG G TG SB RP H ?
- In two or three words, what links a famous composition by Beethoven, an oil on canvas painting by Jonathon Bowser, and a short novel about a blind Swiss girl by Andre Gide?
- * Which same word can precede "bush", "collar", "diagram", "effect", "fish", "kiss", "nut", "stroke", "valve" and "weed" to make two word phrases, some of which may be hyphenated depending on where you look?
- The daughter of Sir John Brooks of York made what was then a very novel request in the 1760's which was duly granted in London's Hanover Square later in the decade What was this?
- What links actresses Sarah Bernhardt and Sophia Loren politicians Willy Brandt and Ramsay MacDonald, painter Paul Cezanne, and the authors Jack London and August Strindberg?
- If MIB has 30, as does DAX, and CAC has 40, and KOSPI has 200, then, in the same context, how many does a "wild goat" have?
- Found mainly in Mediterranean islands what is the corundum based rock called which is used as an abrasive and which shares its name with the surname of a popular British comedian who died in the 1980's?
- * What, in greek mythology was the ship called in which Jason and his companions sailed in their quest for the Golden Fleece?
- One of the theatre's most popular musicals over the years was centred around a New York Salvation Army girl with a colourful name. The 1950's film version replaced all the songs from the original Broadway production but there was still room for the Salvation Army lass! Who played her in the film?
- I believe he is still alive but at the time his painting False Start fetched $17 million at Sothebys, New York, in 1988 and was the most expensive work by a living artist. His name please. (Please note, I have seen a lesser figure than $17 million but perhaps that took account of Sothebys' commission?)
- And whether you believe in him or not, what was the surname of the er artist who won the £20, 000 Turner Prize last December for his exhibit at the Tate Britain of an empty room where lights flickered on and off every five seconds?
- What is the modern name of the American city which was originally named, in the early 1800's, after President Jefferson's Secretary of War?
- * What was the stage name of Norma Delons Egstrom who died earlier this year, aged 81?
- In which famous humorous novel does the narrator's friend, under the misguided impression that he can entertain fellow party guests with a comic song muddle the words of the Judge's song in "Trial by Jury" with the Admiral's song from "HMS Pinafore"?
- Which well known actor had the most obvious connection with the explorer and seaman who was associated with the Northwest Passage and who commanded HMS Investigator before she had to be abandoned in Mercy Bay in the early 1850's?
- Work out the significance of these letters and say which letter comes next in this old sequence
M Z H Z H N M J?
- The French actress who played a singer and striptease artist called "Maria" who falls in love with a revolutionary leader in a 1960's film directed by Louis Malle was, in real life, romantically involved with that director. Her name please.
- It was seen at the Battle of Hastings and several times since, most recently in the year that Shahrastani won the Derby Most of us won't be around to witness its next appearance so when (just the year) will this be?
- By altering which country's first letter can you obtain one of its official languages?
- Which sport uses the following terms among others "Appel", "Coquille", "Croise", "Double", "Froissement", "Octave", "Replacement" and "Sixte"?
- On which part of the body might little girls have worn "Mary Janes" in the early part of the 20th century?
- Which Nobel Prize winner for Literature said during his acceptance speech to the Swedish Academy "Such is the prestige of the Nobel award and of this place where I stand that I am impelled, not to squeak like a grateful and apologetic mouse, but to roar like a lion out of pride in my profession and in the great and good men who have practised it during the ages"? There's a good clue in one of these words he used, if you find this hard to track down!
- "Abyssinian polo" and "African billiards" are slang terms in North America for which very popular game that involves throwing?
- Which Flanders and Swann song contained a much repeated line that was later the title of a novel by Malcolm Bradbury?
- An opera whose action takes place on "HMS Indomitable", first performed last century with a Cairo-born baritone singing the title role, was based on a story by an author with a whale of a reputation and had a libretto by another well known writer The composer's first name and surname began with the same letter, as does the opera's two word title, so who was he?
- Which plant of the balsam family shares its three word name with the words spoken by Jesus to Mary Magdalene in the Vulgate version of the Bible?
- You'll probably need a calculator to work it out but what number needs to be added to 35006 to pluralise it?
- Two of the ladies pictured in Q's 1-6 appeared in the same film in the 1970's The person who received an Academy Award nomination for "Best Costume Design" for his work on the film was for some 10 years married to a famous entertainer who had made her name playing the same fictitious character as one of the above-mentioned actresses (nb not in the 1970's film!). Which character?
Tantalising 30 begins as usual with the link round. The answers to the first 10 questions, or part of them, whole words of course, are connected in a certain way. Can you suss out the link!?
- In the first quarter of the 19th century Richard Bradburn, Charles Copper, John Harrison, John Strange and John Wilson were deported from England for life for their part in which anti government plot?
- Which musical based on the life and career of the Irish entertainer Percy French ran for just 125 performances in London's West End in 1969/70?
- Which 1980's film with a haunting score by Ry Cooder tells the tale of how the character played by Harry Dean Stanton is eventually re-united with his family after collapsing from heatstroke in a bar?
- I believe it is still the non wicket-keeping record for Gloucestershire but anyway who took 719 catches for that county in first class cricket between 1948 and 1974?
- * In the 1970's who linked the P G Wodehouse character "Ukridge", "Number 2", "Det. lnspector Purbright" and Edward Langtry?
- Which seven word Shakespearean quote preceded "I'll have a Chopin bolognese" in a quip by Kenneth Home from one of his radio programmes of long ago. Please note that this is from my memory bank (as a young lad, of course!), and not out of a book! I've no idea whether it was from "Beyond Our Ken" or "Round the Home" but I'm virtually certain I've got it right!
- In Horace Vachell's novel "The Hill" who is the Harrovian who faces the first ball of the cricket match versus Eton at Lords and, later on, takes a superb running catch to dismiss the Eton captain. First name and surname required, in the correct order!
- Which British Prime Minister was educated, like our friend above, at Harrow and died in his 60's as a result of being thrown from his horse?
- What did Tom Stallard choose on 30 March this year rather to the surprise of the opposing University captain, Ben Burch?
- * Born in 1920 he attended Trinity College, Cambridge, where he read English before and after the War, during which he was badly wounded in Italy while serving with the Royal Engineers. In time he married and he and his wife for many years ran a small bookshop in the West Country where, sadly, he died of a neurological disease in the mid 1990's. Who was this person after whom a very famous fictional character was named?
- And for two more points, what is the link in your answers to Q's 51-60?
- Who most famously was associated with this castle?
- Which famous novel was inspired by the author's romantic attachment to a nurse called Agnes von Kurowsky?
- CREEP HASSLE is an anagram of the surnames of which two people who were involved in a bizarre sporting incident in April 1993?
- * And who or what replaced Dawson in April 1953?
- In a 1920's context, if the body could be buried in Sussex grass; and the tongue buried at Champmedy, then where could the heart be laid to rest?
- In an early 1930's zany film comedy, which country of super athletes capable of leaping over buildings and sprinting past motorbikes competed in the 1932 Olympic Games?
- Apart from being mass murderers what linked Albert deSalvo, John "Legs" Diamond, John Dillinger, Carl Panzran, Howard Unruh and Charles Whitman?
- Despite not having attained the age of four, who managed to look after his mother with great assiduity according to a person who is linked with another question in the quiz?
- * "Of course, they are all raving mad, you know" is the last line in a 1960's film, one of a long-running series Name the character who says this line?
Into Competitors Corner with the next five questions kindly? supplied by your fellow GBQuizzers.
- In a sporting context which same word links East End, Palmerston, Rugby, Somerset, Station and Victoria?
- By chance there is a rather good clue later in the quiz so who (and I am not looking for a specific name) killed off Arnold, Byron, Dickens, Dryden, Elgar, Hogarth, Keats, Kipling and Sullivan among others?
- If "The World" is 21, "The Star" 17, "The Devil" 15, "The Hermit" 9, and "The Emperor" 4, then what number is "The Fool" in the same arcane context?
- Roger wrapped up well and beat Jack, Rudi, the aptly named Chip, and Annika, among others in a competition sponsored earlier this year by Drambuie. In which country did it take place?
- These letters don't stand for anything other than themselves but which of them is the odd one out for a very specific reason?
E H I M N O S or T?
Simple stuff again as it's only me!
- What are the initials of the famous organisation which was formed in 1908 by a person with Napoleonic connections?
- Who referred to Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" as "the most insipid, ridiculous play that I ever saw in my life"?
- In the history of the (British) Open Golf Championship who played two consecutive rounds where the difference between the scores was the greatest? (Eg Round 1 = 101, Round 2 = 73 would be a difference of 28)
- Love him or hate him this Postmaster General gave his name to a certain "Code" and he had an enormous influence on a certain industry back in the 1930s He will certainly have been spinning in his grave for many years now considering the "advances" made in this industry so what was his name, one which he almost shared with a far more entertaining person who was involved in the same line of business?
- * What name connects a 1560's painting called "The Tailor" a screen "Buffalo Bill", and the Mormon leader Joseph Smith?
And this is where I try, unsuccessfully no doubt!, to gently Torment those brave enough to attempt the section.
- Who famously survived the Battle of Little Bighorn and died at Fort Riley, Kansas some 17 years later?
- Which detective with biblical alcoholic connections made his debut in the 1973 novel "The Big Fix"?
- A star of one of the most famous and influential anti-war films ever made, back in the early days of sound, was a fluent linguist with a degree in mathematics At which "Ivy League" seat of learning had he taught mathematics before turning his talents to acting?
- In a poem which lamented the death of a fellow poet in the 1860's the author referred to himself by a traditional name for a rustic or shepherd. This happens to be an anagram of a borough in Greater London, so what is the name of the poem please?
- Jean, Edouard and Josephine were siblings, each famous in the same profession, who died in 1925, 1917 and 1891 respectively Which brand of cigarette was supposedly named after "Jean"
- One of the most famous scenes in the history of cinema took place on the steps of a port in the Ukraine where several civilians were massacred by Cossacks (in the film) One point for the name of this film and two points for the name, familiar in another context, of the former governor of the city whose statue looks down on these steps.
- At which major school is the Queen seen here in the 1950's while being received at the "Ad Portas" ceremony?
- What was the surname of the family which Noel Coward once described as "two wiseacres and a cow"?
- What is the name of the somewhat slow but apparently artistic three year-old son of Noor el Houdah who spends most of his time at Newmarket?
- Which 12 letter word, derived from greek, means the changing of a word or phrase in order to give it more weight or intensity as, for instance "hundreds of people, no thousands, watched the procession"?
- Name the disabled Jewish tourist, murdered by Palestinian terrorists aboard the "Achille Lauro", who was the subject of a 1990's opera by a composer who shares his first name and surname with a President of the USA
- Three cryptic crossword clues for you now One point each!
a. Coal scuttle I drum upon when agitated (9)
b. Would this tree be a success at Bisley and Wimbledon? (7)
c. If "The Lady's Not For Burning", these steps would be unnecessary (5)
- In which city did a model called Anna Kesselaar happen to be charged with indecency in the early 1960's?
- A high profile nightclub hostess once made a famous remark concerning the judgemental abilities of a very large number of Frenchmen after New York authorities tried to prevent her from taking a troupe of her dancers to Pans. Who made her film debut in a cameo role as this hostess?
- Which word for animal drawn sleds that were formerly used by American Indians was included (spelled slightly differently) in a famous 1919 painting by an official War artist who died in the 1950's?
- In "Franglais" her surname sounds as if it might suggest a number linked with blackbirds, so who was the Ukraine-born fashion illustrator of 19th century French publications who died in 1899?
- Which firm of naval outfitters of the period gave its name to a collective slang term for the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal?
- Jack and his wife recently attended a binge where there were four other married couples A lot of handshaking took place but noboby shook hands with the same person more than once, and nobody shook hands with his or her spouse, or with themself Jack later enquired of each person, including his wife, how many hands he or she had shaken. To his surprise, each gave a different answer How many people had Jack's wife shaken hands with?
- Back in 1989 his career was almost ended when a convicted drunk driver called Robert Norman Sobie drove into him while he was unloading the boot of his car in Miami. Astonishingly he recovered after a series of operations on his leg and his extraordinary commitment and fitness enabled him to briefly reach world number one in his sport in the mid 1990's. Now retired, he spends much of his time in Australia. Who is this?
- What links the novels "Westward Ho" (Charles Kingsley), "Lorna Doone" (R D Blackmore), "Bonjour Tristesse" (Francoise Sagan), "The House of the Seven Gables" (Nathaniel Hawthorne), "Beloved" (Tom Morrison), and "The Last Chronicle of Barset" (Anthony Trollope)?
