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The "Starbridge" Series by Susan Howatch

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Fun Trivia : Quizzes : H : The "Starbridge" Series by Susan Howatch

Introduction:
"A quiz on Susan Howatch's remarkable series of novels on the Church of England in the 20th Century. This quiz is on both the "Starbridge" and "St Benet" novels."


1. "Glittering Images": In the first novel in the series, the year is 1937. We open with Charles Ashworth, sent by the Archbishop of Canterbury to enquire into the somewhat curious personal life of the flamboyant Bishop of Starbridge. Who IS the Bishop of Starbridge?
    Cosmo Lang
    William Inge
    Alex Jardine
    Herbert Henson


2. The Bishop is not the only one with secrets. Charles Ashworth suffers a breakdown, and finds himself drunk and in despair, knocking at the door of Grantchester Abbey in the middle of the night. Through counselling, Charles uncovers his own hidden past. What is Charles' secret?
    The man who raised him is not his biological father
    He was molested as a child
    He is gay
    He killed his brother in childhood


3. "Glamorous Powers": In the second novel of the series, Jonathon Darrow, the psychic spiritual director from the first novel, thinks that he has received a call to leave the Monastic Order, and re-enter the world. His call came in the form of a vision - a lovely Christopher Wren chapel in the woods, with a suitcase by the door. Later Jon encounters these objects in the 'real' world. Which one does he see first, the suitcase or the chapel?
    Answer: (One word - suitcase or chapel)


4. After his marriage to Miss Barton-Woods, Jon Darrow embarks on a career which his spiritual director, Father Darcy, had always warned him never to attempt. What is it?
    Healer
    Missionary
    Teacher
    Rector to an affluent urban parish


5. Finally, his past reconciled, and his doubts and fears laid to rest, Jon is able to discern his true calling. At the end of "Glamorous Powers", which career do we see him following?
    Rector to an affluent urban parish
    Healer
    Teacher
    Missionary


6. "Ultimate Prizes": It's the darkest period of the Second World War, and the Archdeacon of Starbridge, Neville Aysgarth, is living the perfect life - perfect wife, perfect children, perfect career. However, there is at least one aspect of his life that he prefers to keep a secret from most; he calls it his "hidden ministry". What is it?
    Pastor to inner city prostitutes
    Pastor to German P.O.W.s
    Pastor to drug abusers
    Pastor to unwed mothers


7. At the funeral of his mentor, the former Bishop of Starbridge, Neville finally realizes the mess he has made of his life. What does he do after the funeral that brings home to him how far "off the rails" he has gone?
    He has a drunken sexual encounter with Charles Ashworth's wife, Lyle
    He exposes himself on the street
    He assaults the Bishop's widow, Carrie
    He has a fistfight with Charles Ashworth


8. "Scandalous Risks": This book takes us to the early sixties, and the time of the "New Morality". Venetia Flaxton is an unhappy upper-class young woman, looking for a focus for her life. Unfortunately, this focus becomes Neville Aysgarth, now Dean of Starbridge Cathedral. Venetia and her "Mr Dean" fall in love, and begin an unwise affair, which eventually becomes physical.
It becomes very clear to us throughout the novel that Aysgarth is using his romance with Venetia to hide from the many problems in his life. Which of the following is NOT one of Aysgarth's problems at this time?
    His commissioning of a pornographic sculpture for the Cathedral lawn
    His drinking
    His addiction to prescription drugs
    Financial irregularities with Cathedral funds


9. Venetia comes to feel that her only way of escape from this disastrous affair is to marry someone else. Only then will Aysgarth let her go. Whom does Venetia marry?
    Michael Ashworth
    Eddie Hoffenburg
    Christian Aysgarth
    Nicholas Darrow


10. "Absolute Truths": Charles Ashworth, by now Bishop of Starbridge, is devastated in this novel by his 'third catastrophe'. Which of the following is NOT one of his three catastrophes?
    His drug addiction
    His time in a P O W camp
    His spiritual breakdown in 1937
    The death of his wife Lyle


11. Charles manages to repair his relationships with his sons, Charley and Michael, when they both appear at his Starbridge home following a crisis up in London. What had happened in London, to send both boys to seek sanctuary in Starbridge?
    The suicide of Michael's girlfriend, Holly
    Michael's arrest for homosexual solicitation
    Charley's arrest for shoplifting
    Charley's sexual assault of Venetia Flaxton


12. "Mystical Paths": This book focuses on the now grown sons of the men we met in the first three books of the series. Nick Darrow finds himself increasingly obsessed with one of these men. He sets himself to unearth the truth behind the man's death - was it suicide? Who is the man Nick Darrow is obsessed with?
    Michael Ashworth
    James Aysgarth
    Christian Aysgarth
    Charley Ashworth


13. Nick finds out, with the help of Lewis Hall, that there was in fact no suicide, but that a murder has been committed. Where is the body?
    In the English Channel
    Buried in a cemetary, under another name
    Buried beneath the chapel at Starrington Manor
    In the coal-cellar at Perry Palmer's flat


14. When Nick and his father have been healed of their unhealthy "Siamese Twin" relationship, Nick is free to pursue the career that his father failed at so badly. What does Nick become?
    Teacher
    Healer
    Missionary
    Rector to an affluent urban parish


15. "The Wonder Worker": The novel opens with Alice Fletcher, a woman beset by feelings of unworthiness. How does she deal with these feelings?
    She drinks
    She engages in risky sex
    She does drugs
    She eats


16. Nick Darrow is facing problems in his marriage to Rosemary. What is the symbol of his feelings for her?
    Sled
    Teddy Bear
    Starbridge Cathedral
    Apple Pie


17. "The High Flyer": Carter Graham, a powerhouse female lawyer in Thatcher's London, meets Kim Betz, a man with a somewhat clouded past. Despite obstruction from his first wife, they marry.
An important figure in Kim's life is the mysterious Mrs. Mayfield. Who is this Mrs Mayfield?
    The woman who seduced him when he was in his teens
    His long lost biological mother
    A corrupt psychic healer and occult practitioner
    His twin sister


18. At the turning point of "The High Flyer", an important confrontation takes place between all the major characters in Carter's high rise Barbican flat. What happens?
    Kim Betz stabs Eric Tucker
    Kim Betz pushes Nick Darrow off the balconey
    Carter Graham shoots Mrs Mayfield
    Lewis Hall stabs Carter Graham


19. "The Heartbreaker": Carter (now Carta) Graham from "The High Flyer" is back. She finds herself involved in a troubling relationship with a young man, Gavin Blake. What does he do?
    He is a male prostitute
    He is a phony fortune-teller
    He is a drug dealer
    He is a hitman


20. Gavin Blake manages to free himself from his soul-destroying profession, and eventually marries. Does he marry Carta?
    Yes
    No


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