General Knowledge Quiz

[Calthrop]

He was an author

Indeed he was. Can you furnish any fuller info?

 

[Marton]

Indeed he was. Can you furnish any fuller info?

Sorry. Pure guesswork from your hint.

 

[Calthrop]

Discovered just this minute -- embarrassingly, "my bad" to a certain extent -- reading the chap's Wiki "potted bio" the other day, I got the mistaken impression that he had strong associations with the state of Ohio: but no -- it's with neighbouring Indiana. @MotCO: you mentioned Indianapolis -- he is, I find, buried there. (Nothing to do with motor racing, though; JWR did his thing largely before that sport came on the scene.)

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Did he write novels about railways?

 

[Calthrop]

So far as I know, he had no interest in railways. The only railway association, is the mentioned train named after him.

 

[MotCO]

So far as I know, he had no interest in railways. The only railway association, is the mentioned train named after him.

Was JWR his real name, or did he write under a pseudonym which we better know him as?

 

[Calthrop]

James Whitcomb Riley was his real name -- others gave him affectionate labels, of the style of "the ['this-and-that'] -- ['writer-or-whatever']"; but he wrote and published under his own, true name.

 

[MotCO]

Did he write fiction or non-fiction? Or was he a journalist or poet?

 

[xotGD]

for what is he celebrated?

So are you looking for the title of his best known work?

 

[Calthrop]

Did he write fiction or non-fiction? Or was he a journalist or poet?

So are you looking for the title of his best known work?

I was just hoping there might be a chance of someone coming up with something more about the man, than that he was an author -- like, for what kind of authorship, or authorship on what subjects, was he celebrated ? For instance -- @MotCO : possibly some of what you are -- as quoted above -- asking: as I understand things, quizzes customarily work by contestants furnishing information; rather than interrogating the question-setter for info, in scatter-gun fashion !

I feel that we're likely at the end of the road here; but let's give it until tomorrow.

 

[MotCO]

Can I guess that he was an author of books on architecture, style of buildings, building techniques etc? Maybe skyscrapers in particular? (My rationale is that Chicago, and New York for that matter, are full of skyscrapers, and these cities probably invented them.)

 

[Calthrop]

Can I guess that he was an author of books on architecture, style of buildings, building techniques etc? Maybe skyscrapers in particular? (My rationale is that Chicago, and New York for that matter, are full of skyscrapers, and these cities probably invented them.)

No -- his stuff was "dreamy / whimsical", rather than about any practical matter(s). The only thing of potential significance which I've mentioned, is the relevance of his home state of Indiana; in conjunction with which, he's most often thought of.

My feeling is still, that it's pretty well time that this question was put out of its misery; but maybe not quite yet?

 

[MotCO]

Was the state of Indiana associated with native Americans? Was JWR a leading authority on native Americans or their culture?

 

[xotGD]

dreamy / whimsical

Sounds like poetry?

Was he America's answer to Lord Byron?

 

[Calthrop]

Was the state of Indiana associated with native Americans? Was JWR a leading authority on native Americans or their culture?

My impression is that he wasn't much concerned with the Red man, for good or ill. Re Indiana: despite the name, I believe most of the natives had been shipped off westward or otherwise disposed of, by the time our man was writing.

Sounds like poetry?

Was he America's answer to Lord Byron?

He wrote both poetry and prose; more of the former. Definitely un-Byronic: I'd say a better comparison would be Robert Louis Stevenson -- a milder version, without the adventure stuff.

Apologies -- so many interesting and resourceful suggestions, and I seem to have to keep pouring cold water on them...

 

[krus_aragon]

Apologies -- so many interesting and resourceful suggestions, and I seem to have to keep pouring cold water on them.

Ooh, is this a subtle clue that he actually worked in the plumbing trade?

 

[MotCO]

Children's books? Fantasy books?

 

[Calthrop]

Ooh, is this a subtle clue that he actually worked in the plumbing trade?

Early in his life, he earned his living for a time as a sign-painter; but plumbing, no !

Children's books? Fantasy books?

His chief "stock-in-trade" was verse for children; and material affectionately celebrating rural Indiana, often in local dialect -- verse, and short stories. He also engaged in journalism.

https://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Whitcomb_Riley

(If link doesn't work: Googling James Whitcomb Riley will bring up, as first "hit", the lengthy and expansive Wiki article on him.)

Time has come to wrap this one up, I think. Thanks to everyone for contributions / ideas. I'm going to be perhaps a bit cowardly and say: @Marton -- you first narrowed things down to his being an author. @MotCO -- you've been very tenacious, and finally came up with his prominence with material for kids. Might the two of you mutually sort out, who's to take the floor?

 

[A Challenge]

https://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Whitcomb_Riley

(If link doesn't work: Googling James Whitcomb Riley will bring up, as first "hit", the lengthy and expansive Wiki article on him.)

Note: the correct link is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Whitcomb_Riley

 

[Calthrop]

Thank you ! Doing links, is a bugbear for me.

 

[Marton]

Time has come to wrap this one up, I think. Thanks to everyone for contributions / ideas. I'm going to be perhaps a bit cowardly and say: @Marton -- you first narrowed things down to his being an author. @MotCO -- you've been very tenacious, and finally came up with his prominence with material for kids. Might the two of you mutually sort out, who's to take the floor?

Mine was a pure guess.
I won’t take the floor. Over to @MotCO.

 

[MotCO]

Can I step in with another literary question, and also relating to North America? Which British novelist became Governor General of Canada?

 

[MotCO]

Mine was a pure guess.
I won’t take the floor. Over to @MotCO.

Thanks Marton.

 

[xotGD]

Can I step in with another literary question, and also relating to North America? Which British novelist became Governor General of Canada?

Pure guess: Sir Walter Scott?

 

[MotCO]

Pure guess: Sir Walter Scott?

No.

 

[Calthrop]

John Buchan (who by his appointment, had been created Lord Tweedsmuir): Governer General of Canada from 1935 to his death in 1940.

Open floor if correct.

 

[MotCO]

John Buchan (who by his appointment, had been created Lord Tweedsmuir): Governer General of Canada from 1935 to his death in 1940.

Open floor if correct.

Indeed he was. Although best known for the Thirty Nine Steps, he did write 28 novels, including Greenmantle, a follow-up to the Thirty Nine Steps and The House of Four Winds, a well as even more works of non-fiction and 11 biographies, including Sir Walter Scott (xotGD !). He was born in Perth, Scotland.

I'll open the floor up, per Caltrop's wishes.

 

[xotGD]

As I got an honourable mention, here is another literary question:

What links the authors Tom Knox and S.K. Tremayne

 

[Calthrop]

Although best known for the Thirty Nine Steps, he did write 28 novels, including Greenmantle, a follow-up to the Thirty Nine Steps...

Just a comment, not an answer to anything -- (my bolding): Greenmantle -- terrific yarn: one of the most engaging and spellbinding tales of action, that I've ever encountered -- well and truly thrilling, too.

 

[xotGD]

As I got an honourable mention, here is another literary question:

What links the authors Tom Knox and S.K. Tremayne

No answers yet, so here is a clue: Both are pen-names.