Lit Quiz

[Newby]

In whose rooms were Balkan Sobranie cigarettes to the fore?

In what novel do international adventurers plot to loot a greek bronze statue?

Who writes an unsatisfactory thank-you letter for a platinum and gold ring?

[I'm stuck]

On the cigs, has anyone looked into (and ruled out?) Father Kristoforos in de Bernieres' BIRDS WITHOUT WINGS?  I haven't read it yet.

[greatsage]

I thought we were pretty confident with I A Serebin from Alan Furst's "blood of Victory" for tobacco 2.

[Postumus]

Most of the smokers in Birds smoke latakia so far (halfway) - not the full deal. Furst's hero seems to smoke sobranie (not called BalkanSobranie - is this true, and if so is it significant?). Has anyone ever waded through all of Henry James and remember a ring and letter?

[phoenixxx]

Thinking about the types of writers and the possible period that would coincide with platinum and thank you letters, does anyone know any DHLawrence well enough ? Possibly Sons and Lovers?

[kenpilot]

Does anyone know anything about The Gift by David Flusfeder. Apparently it is about presents and thank you letters, but I can't get hold of it. Any other ideas out there?

[Beeble]

The gift does not look like the answer though reviews do not give everything away.  here is bit from a review:

The novel opens, with a perfect dramatic pitch and sense of comedy, on a deceptively low-key scene, which gives us a foretaste of Phillip's gradual descent from barely controlled normality to unrestrained near-madness. The trigger is a gift: not a gift received - not yet - but a gift he feels he has to give their wealthy friends, Barry and Sean, in return for their frequent hospitality. He insists on buying them a poster of one of Barry's old films (he is a larger-than-life American producer living in London; Sean is his pleasant, vapid partner). Alice's advice is to look for candlesticks instead, but Phillip insists, with a new stubbornness, and gets it wrong. Upon receiving the gift, Barry lets slip, not too casually, that his office is full of these old posters. Phillip resolves to find a better gift to make up for his faux-pas; and the battle of gifts begins.

It is an uneven contest, and both amusing and painful to watch: Barry and Sean present Phillip and Alice with an Italian designer corkscrew; Phillip finds a cute kaleidoscope; Barry and Sean reciprocate with a skiing trip; Phillip buys them a rosebush in return; they give him Cup Final tickets and he comes up with a pair of chinchillas as a joint birthday present for "the boys". But he - almost - loses the battle when his daughters receive a pair of ponies.

[greatsage]

I was able to search inside The Gift. Only reference to platinum is a platinum credit card... no rings

[Ray The Grey]

I have started searching for some variations on the wording - the change that gave most changes was entering 'band' instead of 'ring'. Nothing definite, but there are a few other questions where slight rephrasing defeats search engines. Also I have tried adding wedding/engagement - still different results but nothing yet.

[tautau]

Still trawling,just an idea,how about Holly Golightly,

Breakfast at Tiffanys, "Never read it", or Sally Bowles,

Cabaret, just desperate ideas.

[Postumus]

Skimmmed Mr Norris Changes Trains recently. No ring I could see. It's the original of Cabaret. You could try The Last of Mr Norris and Goodbye to Berlin. I don't have a copy of Breakfast at T.

[phoenixxx]

Like postumus I too looked in Mr Norris Changes Trains without success. However, the novel that Cabaret was based on is another Isherwood one called I am a Camera. Having been smart enough to know that I now have to confess I don't have a copy of it! Has anyone else?

By the way - does anyone have or know any Edith Wharton? Just a thought.

[mrs p]

Also clutching at straws: in a shop, pushed for time, I had a quick trawl through Adrian Mole & the Weapons of Mass Destruction, in which there's quite a bit of correspondence; he seems to get engaged & unengaged, and there was mention of a platinum & diamond ring. I'm still thinking along the lines of an inheritance, since the clue doesn't mention diamonds so it probably isn't engagement.

[greatsage]

Gold and platinum rings seem thin on the ground!

There is one central to: The Trials of Nikki Hill.

However, it would appear to have been nicked off a corpse near the beginning, and flashed about as police evidence for the rest of the novel. The thank-you letter part therefore looks doubtful.

[cathwhite]

No platinum in house of mirth (wharton). As we already have age of innocence for opera1 I think she is an unlikely source for Jewellery2 anyway.Will try Scott Fitzgerald next.

[phoenixxx]

Has been suggested to me that this may be from Diamond as big as the Ritz. Haven't read it or have a copy. - can anyone help?

[Postumus]

Not there, Phoenixxx.  The nearest I've come in Fitzgerald is an early story 'Dalyrimple...' where a platinum ring and a gold ring are mentioned in the same breath as separate gifts for someone.  This would be stretching the 'and'  phrasing of the question rather (tho possible, just).  But I couldn't find a thank you letter. The epoch is right and the glitz, but....

[phoenixxx]

well we've nearly run out of time. I'd like to thank newby for starting this thread - it's been really enjoyable. Many former contibuters have been silent for some time - does that mean they have solved the final clue or are they out of ideas? It would be nice if anyone who has contributed to this thread does win the competition they let the rest of us know via this site. I will be letting the world know if it is me!

[Newby]

I'd like to thank everyone who has made this process so enjoyable. It's good to know that, out there, there are so many witty, intelligent and literate people. Good luck with the quiz (For myself, because I live abroad, I think I've run out of time)

I'd still like to know the answer though....

[LG123]

It's been really great with everyone contibuting on this site - and knowing they are as frustrated as me with The LAST QUESTION! I think the Sunday Times normally publish the answers about 2/3 weeks after the closing date, so we'll soon find out what we missed. Oh well, see you all next year!!!

[mrs p]

Well, we've all missed the last post: looking forward to discovering that last elusive answer! If anyone on this thread wins, do let us know.

There's usually a really good travel quiz in the S Times just before Christmas - shall we all meet up again?