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?

[quidnunc]

Trawling through (again), it appears that both Kenneth Tynan and the Mitfords were keen on Sobranie cigarettes. Haven't made any more progress, though. 

[phoenixxx]

Skimmed Little Women because I had a vague memory about a ring but it was not gold and platinum! Really have run out of ideas now. Help!

[Postumus]

Hardy's Tess writes a letter to Angel that is unsatisfactory in that it goes astray under the door and carpet. She wears their wedding ring around her neck, but I can't locate a description of it.  Postumus

[kamhlaba]

In the thrillers of Alan Furst the main character I.A.Serebin smokes Balkan Sobranie cigarettes and has rooms in Paris during the war.

Any further ideas on the platinum and gold ring  - it's driving me mad !!

[greatsage]

That Furst one sounds good. (sound of kicking self) I passed by a reference to it while researching sobranies in google but didn't follow through. Well done kamhlaba.

However, the nagging thing is "to the fore".

My best suggestion so far is Marshall Trueblood - the gay antiques dealer in the martha Grimes detective novels.

[maxwellmarsh]

That's it kahmlaba I'm sure you're right!

Alan Furst! - First = to the fore...

I'd been looking out for a name or title along those lines for a while!  The answer must be I.A. Serebin.

[phoenixxx]

Not Tess - she only wrote to Angel to confess about her past - not to thank him for a ring.

[Postumus]

Agrreed. My thanks to Aschenbach. Now, is there anyone still out there or are we at as far as we can get?

[Ray The Grey]

I should be able to confirm/discount the Perec book soon. Also, I am getting the Gutenberg project on DVD (9500 books) which may help find the Platinum ring, who knows.

On the ring - I was thinking it is probably a newer book (ie stil in copyright) or someone would have found it in a search - maybe a Zadie Smith, Byatt or similar Booker-type person - these are not my normal reading - anyone else into these?

The book (modern version) of Jason and the Argonauts could still  be an outsider for the statue.

[Newby]

 Ok. Ray, I have searched project gutenberg using their advanced search option and I can't find any reference to a gold and platinum ring. I think this means that we can eliminate a nineteenth century origin for the remaining questions. I also checked forums doing the quiz and it seems people are stuck on the same ones. (by the way the PG DVD is wonderful and may I recommend Tom's eText Reader to use with it - it's a free download.)

[I'm stuck]

I'm new to posting answers so forgive me if I don't get this right but...

I think the bronze statue (that is the one you're discussing here, yes?) is from PASCALI'S ISLAND.  

Where I'm stuck with no leads to follow is Pictures 3 - the Flemish masterpiece?  I wondered about The Girl with the pearl earring but threw that out.  Also on the Sobranie, I'm checking Sebastian (who did smoke Turkish cigarettes) in BRIDESHEAD.  Have you guys already ruled that out?  I can't find it in this string. 

[phoenixxx]

Original thread was started late August - you'll find most answers there.
Pascali's Island certainly looks a possibility although I'm only going by reviews as I havn't read it. Do they plot to loot a Greek bronze statue in the novel?

[greatsage]

I think it is Pascali's Island. We have a war setting. A greek bronze statue to be looted, and in a novel. Of course if anyone has the book and can be nice enough to confirm it...

However, I'm 95% certain, and Pascali's Island will be on my answer sheet!

[kamhlaba]

Hi I'm stuck

What does "to the fore" mean in relation to Brideshead ? Does Sebastian play golf ? I think the Flemish masterpeice is Headlong by Michael Frayn.

Do you have an answer for the thank-you letter and the platinum and gold ring ?

[I'm stuck]

Glad you like PASCALI'S ISLAND.  Yes, found and confirmed HEADLONG today.

To "the fore" no connection but...  At this point, having tried the sensible methods of detection and going for "whatever" and I'm just thinking of "the rooms", of the cigarettes and since I haven't been able to check the Furst book I'm looking into everything.

Don't have the thank you letter but looking again at the names of the side of the actual newspaper and thinking about Faber authors etc, wondering about Sebastian Faulks.  Also wondering about Philip Pulman (for no obvious reason).

Save me reading it again, ('cause I didn't like it the first time around), are we confirmed on John Self for the Bermuda shorts?

By the way, yes, I know the string started in August.  May have only posted today but been participating since the beginning.

[Newby]

John Self is definite.

[cathwhite]

Eventually found this very hel'pful site.

I thought Jewellery2 could be 'the unthinkable thoughts of Jacob Green' by Joshua Braff.The dysfunctional JG writes a series of bar mitzvah thank you notes for his many presents that are less than satisfactory but as the book is only published in the US it is difficult to check if a ring was one of them.......

[phoenixxx]

Well cathwhite - you are the only person to come up with any suggestion for jewellery 2 so I guess it's worth trying to explore that avenue. Thanks!

[Beeble]

Just went through the Jabob Green book by Braff--no platinum and gold ring--he got a dart board, bookends from stone from Isreal, and such but no rings.

[greatsage]

A bit of nous will be necessary for this ring question...

Now platinum is a relatively recent metal. It was around from the 1780s, and may be in 19th c lit, but only became really popular in the late 1800s and up to the Jazz age when it became a strategic mineral, and has gained popularity again relatively recently.

This means while it may occur in lterature anytime from 1800 onwards, the most likely periods are 1890-1920s and 1970, 1980(?) onwards.

This may help narrow down the search....