Arts & Books Mixed Bag 11 Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Wombles

'The Wombles' were created by Elisabeth Beresford, first appearing in 1968. Although the pointy-nosed, furry creatures that collect and recycle rubbish can apparently be found throughout the world, Beresford's stories concentrate on the family living on Wimbledon Common in London.

Answer: Giacomo Puccini

The operas of Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini are amongst those most frequently performed at the world's great opera Houses. His classic works include 'Turandot', 'La Bohème', 'Madam Butterfly' and 'Tosca' and many of his arias have crossed the divide into popular culture. 'Le Villi' was first premiered as a single-act in 1884, when the writer was just 27 years old.

It reappeared six months later as a two-act opera, which was amended twice more and finally appeared in its finished form in 1889.

Answer: Neptune

Neptune, the Roman God of water and the sea, son of Saturn and Ops, is the brother of Jupiter, Pluto, Vesta, Juno and Ceres. Neptune is similar, although not identical, to the Greek God of the sea, storms and earthquakes, Poseidon.

Answer: Dr Zhivago

Boris Pasternak's classic novel tells the story of the eponymous doctor and poet, Yuri Zhivago. Set in the time of the Russian Revolution and the Russian Civil War, the novel was adapted for the epic 1965 David Lean film starring Omar Sharif in the title role, although it was Tom Courtenay who earned the film's only acting Oscar nomination.

Answer: Caspar David Friedrich

If you have not yet discovered the works of the 19th-Century German Romantic artist Caspar Friedrich, you have a treat in store. Amongst his many classics are 'Wanderer above the Sea of Fog', which can be seen in the Kunsthalle in Hamburg; 'Man and Woman Contemplating the Moon' and 'The Oak Tree in the Snow', both of which are on display in the Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin; and 'Graveyard under Snow', which can be seen at the Museum der Bildenden Künste in Leipzig.

Answer: Sir Walter Scott

Born in Edinburgh in 1771, Sir Walter Scott quickly became popular around the world, thus making him the first English-language author with an international following within his own lifetime. Besides those listed in the question, he is renowned for the novels 'Rob Roy', 'The Lady of the Lake' and, in particular, 'Ivanhoe'.

Answer: France

Although not written until 1880, Tchaikovsky's most recognizable work commemorates the Battle of Borodino and Russia's defense of Moscow against Napoleon's advancing French army. Popularly known as the '1812 Overture', its full title is 'The Year 1812, Festival Overture in E flat major'.

Answer: Dennis the Menace

The anti-hero Dennis 'The Menace' lives with his Mum and Dad (who are never named), his younger sister, Bea, and his 80-year old granny, Gertrude. Granny Gertrude is particularly known for her liberal use of the 'Demon Whacker' and her love of motorbikes. Dennis's other family members include Gertrude's sister, Aunt Beryl, and Dennis's cousin, Denise. 'Dennis' first appeared in the "Beano" in March 1951 and, in 2004, passed 'Lord Snooty' to become the comic's longest-running strip.

Answer: Percy Bysshe Shelley

Born in Horsham, Sussex in 1792, Percy Bysshe Shelley is one of England's greatest ever lyric poets. As well as his work, he is also remembered for his association with the other great poets of his era, Byron and Keats, and for his second marriage, to Mary Shelley, the author of 'Frankenstein'.

He also wrote classical anthological verses such as 'Ozymandias' and 'The Masque of Anarchy', visionary poems such as 'Adonaïs' and 'The Revolt of Islam', and the Gothic novels 'Zastrozzi' and 'Saint Irvyne'.

Answer: Harold Robbins

With sales of more than 750 million worldwide, Harold Robbins trails only three English writers in total lifetime sales: William Shakespeare, Barbara Cartland and Agatha Christie. His best-selling title include 'The Carpetbaggers' (which was adapted into a 1964 film starring George Peppard and Alan Ladd in his last film role) and 'A Stone for Danny Fisher' (which became the 1958 film 'King Creole' starring Elvis Presley).

Not that his work met with universal approval -- Basil Fawlty famously described it as 'Transatlantic tripe'.