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Quiz about Literary One Hit Wonders
Quiz about Literary One Hit Wonders

Literary "One Hit Wonders" Trivia Quiz


This quiz is about authors who only ever published one book or novel - the literary equivalent of a (musical) "one hit wonder".

A multiple-choice quiz by MotherGoose. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
MotherGoose
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
174,701
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
4985
Awards
Top 5% quiz!
Last 3 plays: Wordpie (10/10), Guest 86 (9/10), Guest 73 (8/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Harper Lee was a "one-book author" for 55 years. What is the name of her Pulitzer Prize-winning book, published in 1960? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Another "one-hit wonder" was "Gone with the Wind". It is both a romantic and historical epic about the American Civil War. Who wrote "Gone with the Wind"? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. What is the name of the only novel written by Emily Bronte? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Although this author wrote many plays and poems, he wrote only one novel, "The Picture of Dorian Gray", published in 1890. Who was this controversial author? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. In January 1963, an American classic was published under an assumed name. Although not strictly an autobiography, this book was based on the author's own mental breakdown and suicide attempt. She later committed suicide in February 1963. What was the author's real name? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. "The Diary of Anne Frank" spans the period 14th June 1942 to 1st August 1944. Anne died in the concentration camp at Bergen-Belsen in March 1945. Who was responsible for organising the publication of Anne's diary after the war? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Which of the following children's classics was a "one-hit wonder" for the author? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. This Russian author mostly wrote poetry but he also produced one epic novel about the Bolshevik Revolution. He won the Nobel Prize in 1958 for his poetry and his novel but the Kremlin forced him to refuse it. Who was this author? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. One of the world's greatest humanitarians won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. This person was also a "one-book author" although the book, "A Gift for God", was not exactly a best-seller. Who was this author? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. The movie "Finding Forrester" is the story of a reclusive writer, William Forrester, who only wrote one book. The movie was loosely based on which real-life author? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 17 2024 : Wordpie: 10/10
Feb 18 2024 : Guest 86: 9/10
Feb 17 2024 : Guest 73: 8/10
Feb 17 2024 : Guest 98: 10/10
Feb 17 2024 : gwendylyn14: 8/10
Feb 17 2024 : Mpproch: 10/10
Feb 17 2024 : Skip5217: 7/10
Feb 17 2024 : peggy-bee: 8/10
Feb 17 2024 : Waves306: 9/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Harper Lee was a "one-book author" for 55 years. What is the name of her Pulitzer Prize-winning book, published in 1960?

Answer: To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee won a Pulitzer Prize for "To Kill a Mockingbird" in 1961. Oprah Winfrey once asked Harper Lee why she only ever wrote one book. Harper Lee replied that she had said everything she had to say. In 2015, however, it appears she changed her mind, with the publication of her second book, "Go Set a Watchman".
2. Another "one-hit wonder" was "Gone with the Wind". It is both a romantic and historical epic about the American Civil War. Who wrote "Gone with the Wind"?

Answer: Margaret Mitchell

Like Harper Lee, Margaret Mitchell won a Pulitzer Prize (1937) for her epic novel. Margaret Mitchell originally named her heroine 'Pansy O'Hara'. The publisher didn't like the name and persuaded her to change it. Could we imagine Scarlett O'Hara by any other name?
3. What is the name of the only novel written by Emily Bronte?

Answer: Wuthering Heights

"Jane Eyre" was by Charlotte Bronte. "Agnes Grey" and "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" were by Anne Bronte. After "Wuthering Heights" was published in 1847, some critics believed that the book had been written by Emily's brother, Bramwell, as they felt that "no woman from such a circumscribed life could have written such a passionate story" - it wasn't ladylike!
4. Although this author wrote many plays and poems, he wrote only one novel, "The Picture of Dorian Gray", published in 1890. Who was this controversial author?

Answer: Oscar Wilde

In "The Picture of Dorian Gray", the artist who creates the picture is Basil Hallward. This character was based on a friend of Oscar Wilde's - the artist Basil Ward. At Oscar Wilde's trials, the prosecution highlighted the fact that Ward often had young, naked male models in his studio and that Wilde was a frequent visitor.
5. In January 1963, an American classic was published under an assumed name. Although not strictly an autobiography, this book was based on the author's own mental breakdown and suicide attempt. She later committed suicide in February 1963. What was the author's real name?

Answer: Sylvia Plath

The book was "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath but it was originally published under the pseudonym Victoria Lucas. After her death, Ted Hughes collected and published the poetry she had written between 1956 and 1963. "The Collected Poems of Sylvia Plath" won a Pulitzer Prize in 1981.
6. "The Diary of Anne Frank" spans the period 14th June 1942 to 1st August 1944. Anne died in the concentration camp at Bergen-Belsen in March 1945. Who was responsible for organising the publication of Anne's diary after the war?

Answer: Otto Frank, Anne's father

Anne's diary and other papers were left behind after the Germans captured the occupants of the Secret Annex. Miep Gies saved them and gave them to Otto Frank after the war, when it was confirmed that he was the only survivor of the Frank family. On May 11, 1944, Anne wrote in her diary: "... my greatest wish is to become a journalist and later on, a famous writer.

In any case, after the war I'd like to publish a book called The Secret Annex."
7. Which of the following children's classics was a "one-hit wonder" for the author?

Answer: Anna Sewell's "Black Beauty"

Anna Sewell's "Black Beauty" is said to be a book that "changed the way the public looked at horses". It is the story of a horse that suffers abuse from a series of owners. Sewell based Beauty on her brother's horse, Bessie, and her own horse was the inspiration for the character of Merrylegs.
8. This Russian author mostly wrote poetry but he also produced one epic novel about the Bolshevik Revolution. He won the Nobel Prize in 1958 for his poetry and his novel but the Kremlin forced him to refuse it. Who was this author?

Answer: Boris Pasternak

The novel was "Doctor Zhivago". The Russian government refused to allow its publication because of its "subjective anti-revolutionary views". However, the manuscript was smuggled out of Russia and it was published in Italy. After Pasternak won the Nobel Prize, the Kremlin exiled him to the country (to Peredelkino, about 25 km west of Moscow) and he was banned from writing.
9. One of the world's greatest humanitarians won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. This person was also a "one-book author" although the book, "A Gift for God", was not exactly a best-seller. Who was this author?

Answer: Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa was born as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhui in 1910 and she died in 1997. She is widely regarded as a modern saint. Her book, "A Gift for God", was published in 1975. Its theme was "the importance of love as the greatest force for good in the world".
10. The movie "Finding Forrester" is the story of a reclusive writer, William Forrester, who only wrote one book. The movie was loosely based on which real-life author?

Answer: J. D. Salinger

"Finding Forrester" was loosely based on J(erome) D(avid) Salinger, the author of "Catcher in the Rye". This novel is narrated by the main character, Holden Caulfield. It caused controversy in 1951 when it was first published because of its profanity, sexual content and its depiction of issues such as alcohol abuse and prostitution. It still makes the 'banned books' lists today.
Source: Author MotherGoose

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