Quiz: Between the pages

1 In which great work of literature do Fred Clement, Dr Simmons, Professor West, and Harris memorise specific books to make sure that the story is never forgotten?

2 In 1938, this Nobel Prize-winning author worked as an assistant at the Miguel Cane Municipal Library. Seventeen years later he was appointed the director of the National Public Library. Identify this leading literary figure.

3 In 1731, which prominent American and his philosophy group ‘Junto’ set up America’s first library, originally a subscription library only for the members of the club?

4 The National Library in Kolkata, India’s largest library originally started as Calcutta Public Library in 1836. Which leading industrialist, from one of the leading families of India, was its first proprietor?

5 Which famous library requested permission from the Athenians to borrow the original scripts of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides and paid the then huge amount of 15 talents of a precious metal as security deposit?

6 A slightly frivolous question. What architectural detail makes the Kansas City library in Missouri unique and a reasonably big tourist attraction?

7 The US Library of Congress houses the largest number of books in the world. Which American President actually sold 6,457 books from his collection to the library to give it a boost?

8 The library of Unseen University, the most important library in the city of Ankh-Morpork, is a regular feature in the works of Terry Pratchett. What is unique about the chief librarian?

9 Another fiction query. Which famous fictional library is overseen by the efficient Madam Irma Pince, and is the location for many important twists in the plot?

10 Which historical Indian library was named Dharmaganja and comprised three large buildings — the Ratnasagar, the Ratnadadhi and the Ratnaranjaka?

Answers

1.Fahrenheit 451 , Ray Bradbury’s famous allegory on censorship

2. Jorge Luis Borges, whose fiction prominently featured libraries

3. Benjamin Franklin. He also wrote a work of fiction many years later which was banned

4. Prince Dwarkanath Tagore, who contributed a huge sum of ₹300 to earn the privilege

5. The famous Library of Alexandria. In fact, all ships coming into Alexandria harbour had to surrender their books for the library to make copies

6. The entire library front is designed to look like a giant bookcase. Worth looking up!

7. Thomas Jefferson, easily the most erudite occupant of the White House

8. He is an orangutan. He was originally regarded human, but once converted found that opposable toes were very useful for climbing bookshelves and sorting books, and that most people did not relish arguing with a large and strong simian

9. The Hogwarts Library in the Harry Potter series. Highly protective of her books, Irma tended to put jinxes and curses on books so that they would not be misused by readers

10. The library at Nalanda, which was believed to have been burnt down in the early middle ages

_{Joy Bhattacharjya is a quizmaster and Project Director, FIFA U-17 World Cup}

_{Follow Joy on Twitter @joybhattacharj}

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