The Times lit quiz

[Newby]

It's that time of year again, folks...shall we?

[Ruthp]

Cars 1 can't be Alice in Room at the top as she drives her Fiat into a wall unless she drives a green riley earlier in the book

Jobs 3 Don't think this is Bessie as I have read through it and can't find a reference to a nightcap

[greatsage]

Jobs -3 It think it is Bessie. In chapter 27 (if I read my roman numerals correctly) Dixon rummages in Margaret's drawers for a night-cap, as Bessy had a hankering to be buried in something of Margaret's. Margaret finds one for him.

If you are using a serach function on the etext it is night-cap not nightcap.

[gullah]

Cars no2. Could this be anything to do with Tlokweny Road Speedy Motors - Alexander Mccall Smith Botswana Detective Agency Series?

[michealk]

my two thoughts on cars 2 are sue townsend and the queen and I or adrian mole.

[LG123]

I thought Cars 2 might be something comic and a little older - PG Wodehouse?

[greatsage]

Cars 2 - Lord Peter Wimsey drove Daimler... He has cropped up in the past.

[captainandy]

'Noises Off' has been suggested for Theatre 2.

The following, an extract from a synopsis of 'Noises Off',

"Act One: during a rehearsal of the farce, Nothing On. The actors have only had two weeks rehearsal, the stagemanager put the set up back to front ... "

makes me think otherwise . Something by Ayckbourn perhaps?

[greatsage]

Captainandy, I think its more than just an initial plot device of the set being back to front. As:
"act two is the opening night, but seen from backstage"

So in the play we see the farce from the back, and then again from the front in act three.

I think this fits, I actually have a recollection of seeing this 20 odd years ago as a teenager, and the set is from the front in acts 1 and 3 and the back in act 2.

[phoenixxx]

I agree with greatsage - it was one of the few answers I had no doubts about when I first read it.

If cars 1 is not Alice (and I accept it probably isn't) I feel it must be one of the angry young men things of the 50s because of the Riley.

[kenpilot]

I've been through birdsong and it isn't the answer to cemeteries 3

[Ray The Grey]

Cemeteries 3 - Catch 22 (not sure at all though)

[LG123]

Can anyone think of some models of Riley we could try searching for - Elf and Imp...?

[michealk]

Julian Barnes wrote a short story called evermore where the protagonist moves bits of grass around in a war cemetry. Has anyone a copy and could check if war memorial inscriptions are involved?

[captainandy]

Is Cars 1 Iris Murdoch's 1970 novel ' A Fairly Honourable Defeat'?

[greatsage]

captainandy, unfortunately I couldnt find any 'riley' in A Fairly Honourable Defeat, the only 'greens' seem to be describing clothes or vegetation, and no streams to speak of.

[gullah]

Still struggling re the green Riley could it be in The Sea The Sea Iris Murdocks Booker winner?

[whiskypriest]

Pretty sure the green Riley belongs to Rain Carter in Iris Murdoch's 'The Sandcastle'. My copy is currently boxed up and there are eight boxes to choose from! Will continue to hunt and confirm asap.

[whiskypriest]

Quiet remarkable! In my search for Ms. Murdoch, I happened upon Murial Spark's 'The Mandelbaum Gate', in which Freddy Hamilton, a diplomat who writes verse, loses, and I quote ' a piece of his memory' . Hurrah! That's Jobs 5 sorted. Will continue to pursue Iris.

[kenpilot]

Yes, the green riley does belong to Rain Carter in the Sandcastle. Many thanks

[whiskypriest]

Thank you for saving me further hunting, kenpilot! Am off for a cup of tea.