Match Work to Author - 1980-1982 Online Quiz | Literature

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Smiley's People (1980)

Answer: John le Carr�

John le Carr� (1931-2020) was an Irish author, who is best known for his third novel, "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold". This is the seventh book of his nine-book "George Smiley" series telling of the hero's being returned to active service to again confront his Soviet archenemy.

2. Princess Daisy (1980)

Answer: Judith Krantz

Judith Krantz (1928-2019) was a fashion editor and magazine writer who helped start a form of romance novel called "bonkbusters". In this book, Krantz describes a Russian princess whose life moves from wealth and privilege to starting over with nothing.

3. The Bourne Identity (1980)

Answer: Robert Ludlum

Robert Ludlum (1927-2001) was an American author who, before turning to writing, had been a theatre actor and served a stint in the United States Marines. This is the first book of the original, wildly popular "Jason Bourne" trilogy where we are introduced to an amnesiac trying to recover his identity while being pursued by assassins.

4. Rage of Angels (1980)

Answer: Sidney Sheldon

Sidney Sheldon (1917-2007) was an American writer and director who created the television hits "Hart to Hart", "The Patty Duke Show" and "I Dream of Jeannie". "Rage of Angels" follows a successful female lawyer who is romantically pursued by a politician and a Mafia don.

5. Firestarter (1980)

Answer: Stephen King

Stephen King (1947) is an American author of horror, suspense and fantasy novels who has been nicknamed the "King of Horror", a clever use of his surname. This is the story of a young girl who is pursued by the government after it's discovered that she has displayed pyrokinetic powers.

6. The Key to Rebecca (1980)

Answer: Ken Follett

Ken Follett (1949) is a British author of thrillers and historical novels who has sold more than 160 million copies of his works. Here, Follett gives us the story of a beleaguered British officer and a young Jewish girl trying to thwart a master Nazi agent's mission in Cairo.

7. The Covenant (1980)

Answer: James Michener

James Michener (1907-1997) was an American author who had many works that were bestsellers and were often chosen by the Book of the Month Club. In this tale, Michener takes us to South Africa and gives us the history of its wars and politics throughout many generations.

8. Gorky Park (1981)

Answer: Martin Cruz Smith

Martin Cruz Smith (1942-) is an American mystery novelist who is best known for his nine-book "Arkady Renko" series about a Russian investigator, who was first introduced in this novel. In this book, Renko investigates a triple murder while having to contend with the New York City police, the KGB and the FBI.

9. Noble House (1981)

Answer: James Clavell

James Clavell (1921 - 1994) was an Australian-born and naturalized American director and screenwriter best known for his "Asian Saga" novels. This entry in Clavell's "Asian Saga" series is set in Hong Kong and covers slightly more than a week but includes several natural disasters and a murder.

10. Cujo (1981)

Answer: Stephen King

Stephen King (1947) is an American author who has received Bram Stoker Awards, World Fantasy Awards, and British Fantasy Society Awards. This book and its namesake movie ratchet up the suspense as a family dog, a huge St. Bernard, contracts rabies and terrorizes the family.

11. The Hotel New Hampshire (1981)

Answer: John Irving

John Irving (1942) is an American-Canadian novelist and screenwriter who won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for his script of "The Cider House Rules" (1999). "The Hotel New Hampshire" is the story of the Berry family's lives, loves, deaths and a plethora of odd and outrageous experiences thrown at them by bizarre fate.

12. An Indecent Obsession (1981)

Answer: Colleen McCullough

Colleen McCullough (1937 - 2015) was an Australian author who, due to her depth of historical research for her "Masters of Rome" series, was awarded a Doctor of Letters degree by Macquarie University in 1993. In "An Indecent Obsession" a talented nurse becomes enamored of a war hero who has deep-seated issues which ultimately lead to tragic consequences.

13. North and South (1982)

Answer: John Jakes

John Jakes (1932) is an American writer, best known for his American historical & speculative fiction, specifically this Civil War trilogy. "North and South", the first book of the trilogy follows two families as their friendship is threatened by the events of the war.

14. The Parsifal Mosaic (1982)

Answer: Robert Ludlum

Robert Ludlum (1927 - 2001) was an American author who has had a dozen books adapted for movies and miniseries. "The Parsifal Mosaic", tells of an agent who is pursued by both Russian and US assassins and his lover and co-agent whom he thought had been killed.

15. The Man from St. Petersburg (1982)

Answer: Ken Follett

Ken Follett (1949) is a British author who was named a Grand Master at the Edgar Awards (mystery writers) in New York in 2013. This is the tale of a master manipulator and assassin who has the entire English police force, the aristocracy and even Winston Churchill laying for him.

Source: Author jcmttt

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Match Work to Author - 1980-1982 Quiz

Here are some works of fiction that attained the number one position on the New York Times Bestseller list in the years 1980-1982. Parenthetical year indicates when the title first reached the top position on the list. Match the author with their work.

Questions		Choices
1. Smiley's People (1980)		Robert Ludlum
2. Princess Daisy (1980)		Colleen McCullough
3. The Bourne Identity (1980)		Ken Follett
4. Rage of Angels (1980)		Sidney Sheldon
5. Firestarter (1980)		Ken Follett
6. The Key to Rebecca (1980)		Stephen King
7. The Covenant (1980)		Stephen King
8. Gorky Park (1981)		John Irving
9. Noble House (1981)		James Clavell
10. Cujo (1981)		James Michener
11. The Hotel New Hampshire (1981)		Judith Krantz
12. An Indecent Obsession (1981)		Robert Ludlum
13. North and South (1982)		John Jakes
14. The Parsifal Mosaic (1982)		Martin Cruz Smith
15. The Man from St. Petersburg (1982)		John le Carr�