The Emperor’s New Clothes. Illustration by Hans Tegner, 1900 Image Wikipedia
One
Who wrote the 1837 fairy tale, The Emperor’s New Clothes?
Answer: Hans Christian Anderson
An emperor, obsessed with clothes, hires two con-men who claim to weave clothes that are invisible to the incompetent or stupid. The emperor, his officials, and the townspeople all pretend to see the clothes, fearing they are incompetent, until a child reveals the truth. Hans Christian Andersen, a Danish author, is renowned for his fairy tales, which are widely translated. He also wrote plays, novels, poems, travel books and autobiographies.
Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf Painting by Carl Larsson in 1881. Image Wikipedia
Two
The Brothers Grimm’s Children’s and Household Tales, a collection from 1823, includes these three tales; The … Brothers, The … Dancing Princesses and The … Hunstmen. The same number is missing from all three titles, what is the number?
Answer: Twelve
Grimms’ Fairy Tales, originally Children’s and Household Tales, a seminal work of Western children’s literature, is a collection of fairy tales by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, the Brothers Grimm. The first volume of the first edition contained 86 tales.
Peter and Wendy was originally written as a play in 1904, and then reworked into a novel in 1911. Who was the author of both versions?
Answer: JM Barrie
British novelist and playwright J.M. Barrie, best known for creating Peter Pan, was inspired by the Llewelyn Davies boys. He was knighted and awarded the Order of Merit, and bequeathed the rights to Peter Pan to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
The Hare and the Tortoise from Aesop’s Fables, 1912. Image Wikipedia
Four
The Fir and the Bramble and The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse are from what collection of famous stories which date back more than 2,500 years?
Answer: Aesop’s Fables
Aesop’s Fables, a collection of fables attributed to the ancient Greek slave and storyteller Aesop, have been passed down through oral tradition and various sources. Initially intended for adults, the fables evolved to become educational tools for children, emphasising ethical lessons and gaining global recognition through translations and adaptations. Among some of the better known are The Tortoise and the Hare and Hercules and the Wagoner.
Sinbad the Sailor and Aladdin are well-known, although not original, stories from what early collection of tales?
Answer:
One Thousand and One Nights, also known as The Arabian Nights, is a collection of Middle Eastern folktales compiled in Arabic during the Islamic Golden Age. The stories, framed by the tale of Shahryar and Scheherazade, were collected over centuries and include tales from various cultures and eras. Some stories, like Sinbad the Sailor and Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp, were added later by translators.
Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf From a painting by Carl Larsson in 1881. Image Wikipedia
One
Who wrote the 1837 fairy tale, The Emperor’s New Clothes?
Two
The Brothers Grimm’s Children’s and Household Tales, a collection from 1823, includes these three tales; The … Brothers, The … Dancing Princesses and The … Hunstmen. The same number is missing from all three titles, what is that number?
Three
Peter and Wendy was originally written as a play in 1904, and then reworked into a novel in 1911. Who was the author of both versions?
Four
The Fir and the Bramble and The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse are from what collection of famous stories which date back more than 2,500 years?
Five
Sinbad the Sailor and Aladdin are well-known, although not original, stories from what early collection of tales?
One of the Ford Anglia 105E’s seen in the Harry Potter films. Image Wikipedia
One
Which turquoise blue Ford motor car model is depicted as the flying car in the Harry Potter books and films?
Answer: Ford Anglia 105E
“My secondary school, Wyedean, where I went when I was eleven, was the place I met Sean Harris, to whom Chamber of Secrets is dedicated and who owned the original Ford Anglia. He was the first of my friends to learn to drive and that turquoise and white car meant FREEDOM and no more having to ask my father to give me lifts, which is the worst thing about living in the countryside when you are a teenager. Some of the happiest memories of my teenage years involve zooming off into the darkness in Sean’s car.“ — J.K.Rowling. harrypotterfandom.com
The filming of the scene where the Ford Anglia crashes into the Whomping Willow resulted in the destruction of 14 cars.
Tristan da Cunha as seen from International Space Station. Image NASA/Wikipedia
Two
Tristan da Cunha, an island in the South Atlantic Ocean, has only one settlement. What is its name?
Answer: Edinburgh of the Seven Seas
Edinburgh of the Seven Seas is the only settlement of the island of Tristan da Cunha, a part of the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic Ocean. Locally, it is referred to as The Settlement or The Village.
What tourist attraction in Verona, Italy is a fake as the person allegedly connected to it never existed?
Answer: (either or both) Juliet’s house or Juliet’s balcony
In 1905, the mayor of Verona, as part of a tourism marketing campaign, bought the house from the Cappello family, thinking the name resembled Capulet, Juliet’s surname, and declared it the one and only Juliette’s House. Even the balcony is fake, constructed in the 20th century using parts from a 17th-century sarcophagus and attached to the wall to create a bogus balcony.
Statue of Juliet at Juliets House, Verona. Image WikipediaPalace of Holyroodhouse. Image Wikipedia
Four
What building is the official residence of the British Monarch in Scotland?
Answer: Palace of Holyroodhouse (aka Holyrood Palace)
Holyrood Palace, or in full the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official Scottish residence of the British monarch, is located at the bottom of the Royal Mile. The name derives either from a legendary vision of the cross witnessed by David I, or from a relic of the True Cross known as the Holy Rood or Black Rood, which had belonged to Saint Margaret of Scotland, David’s mother. The palace, which adjoins Holyrood Abbey, is open to the public year-round, except when the royal family is in residence.
The title page of the first edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica, published in 1768-71. Image Wikipedia
Five
On 10 December 1768, the first edition of which reference work was first published in Edinburgh, Scotland?
Answer: Encyclopædia Britannica
The Encyclopædia Britannica, a general-knowledge English-language encyclopaedia, was first published in 1768 and is currently owned by Chicago based Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. After 244 years of print, the last printed edition was published in 2010, and it has been available exclusively online since 2016. The Britannica is known for its scholarly articles and has undergone several changes in format and ownership throughout its history.
The Edinburgh connection is in all the questions except No. 3.
JK Rowling wrote much of Harry Potter while living in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh of the Seven Seas. The settlement was orininally founded and named by a Scotsman: Sergeant William Glass from Kelso, Scottish Borders.
Not part of the theme.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse is at the bottom of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Edinburgh Castle is at the opposite end.
Encyclopædia Britannica was originally founded and published in the city.
But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? — The post title is from William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
Lyndon B. Johnson, 1915. Image WikipediaLyndon B Johnson, 1972. Image Wikipedia
One
Born on 27 August 1908 in Texas, this boy went on to become the president of the United States. Who is he?
Answer: Lyndon B Johnson
Lyndon B Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, served from 1963 to 1969. He assumed the presidency after John F. Kennedy’s assassination and was later elected in a landslide. Johnson’s presidency is remembered for his Great Society programmes, which aimed to expand civil rights, improve healthcare, and combat poverty, but his legacy is also marred by the Vietnam War.
Two
On this date, Ernst Heinkel’s He178 turbojet-powered aircraft achieved the historic first jet flight. In which decade did this event occur?
Answer: 1930s (1939)
The jet engine, though conceptually ancient, only became practical in the 20th century. Early attempts, like the Caproni Campini N.1 and Tsu-11, were unsuccessful. The breakthrough came with the gas turbine, leading to the development of the turbojet, with Frank Whittle and Hans von Ohain (He178) playing pivotal roles in its creation.
Three
The Anglo-Zanzibar War, the shortest war in history, took place on 27 August 1896. How long did the war last? 1. Between 30 minutes and 60 minutes 2. Between 510 minutes and 540 minutes 3. Between 960 and 990 minutes
Answer: Between 30 minutes and 60 minutes
The war lasted no longer than 40 minutes, making it the shortest war in recorded history. — Encyclopædia Britannica
The conflict lasted between 38 and 45 minutes, marking it as the shortest recorded war in history. — Wikipedia
Four
The world premiere of a film adaptation of a book by PL Travers took place on 27 August 1964 in Los Angeles. Which film?
Answer: Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins, a 1964 American musical film, features Julie Andrews as a magical nanny who transforms a troubled London household.
Five
On 27 August 1938, at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA, Captain George E.T. Eyston set a new land speed record. What speed did he achieve? 1. 199.96 mph 2. 273.13 mph 3. 345.49 mph
Answer: 345.49 mph
Captain George Eyston, a British engineer and racing driver, broke the land speed record three times between 1937 and 1939.
Born on 27 August 1908 in Texas, this boy, pictured above in 1915, went on to become the president of the United States. Who is he?
Two
On this date, Ernst Heinkel’s He178 turbojet-powered aircraft achieved the historic first jet flight. In which decade did this event occur?
Three
The Anglo-Zanzibar War, the shortest war in history, took place on 27 August 1896. How long did the war last? 1. Between 30 minutes and 60 minutes 2. Between 510 minutes and 540 minutes 3. Between 960 and 990 minutes
Four
The world premiere of a film adaptation of a book by PL Travers took place on 27 August 1964 in Los Angeles. Which film?
Five
On 27 August 1938, at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA, Captain George E.T. Eyston set a new land speed record. What speed did he achieve? 1. 199.96 mph 2. 273.48 mph 3. 345.49 mph
Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, meets HM King Charles III at Buckingham Palace. LONDON- UK- 5th May 2023. Photo by Ian Jones via Wikipedia
One
Who, born 25 August 1875, connects these: the 15th Governor General of Canada; Richard Hannay; and the 1st Baron Tweedsmuir?
Answer: John Buchan
John Buchan, a Scottish novelist and politician, served as Governor General of Canada from 1935 until his death in 1940. He promoted Canadian unity and strengthened the country’s sovereignty. Buchan, who was the 1st Baron Tweedsmuir, created the character Richard Hannay.
Two
The title of this post, Mr Standfast, is the name of a novel featuring Richard Hannay, as mentioned in question 1. Can you name another novel by the same author that features Hannay as a major character?
Answer: (Any of) – The Thirty-Nine Steps, Greenmantle, The Three Hostages, The Island of Sheep
Hannay appears in several novels as a major character, including:
Note, Richard Hannay also appears in some works by other authors.
Three
The 15th Governor General of Canada is mentioned above, but who is the current and 30th Governor General of Canada? Notably, this is the first Indigenous person to hold the office.
Answer: Mary Simon
Mary Simon, the first Indigenous Governor General of Canada, was born in Quebec and previously worked as a broadcaster and diplomat. Her appointment was criticised due to her limited French fluency.
Four
The international boundary between Canada and the United States is the world’s longest. Two answers to this question: (1) how many Canadian provinces and territories are on the border, and (2) how many US states are on the border.
Answer: (1) 8 Canadian provinces or territories and (2) 13 US states
Firstly, a question about someone born on August 26th. The rest of the questions are follow-ups to this one.
One
Who, born 25 August 1875, connects these: the 15th Governor General of Canada; Richard Hannay; and the 1st Baron Tweedsmuir?
Two
The title of this post is the name of a novel featuring Richard Hannay, as mentioned in question 1. Can you name another novel by the same author that features Hannay as a major character?
Three
The 15th Governor General of Canada is mentioned above, but who is the current and 30th Governor General of Canada? Notably, this is the first Indigenous person to hold the office.
Four
The international boundary between Canada and the United States is the world’s longest. Two answers to this question: (1) how many Canadian provinces and territories are on the border, and (2) how many US states are on the border.
Five
The northern end of the Yukon, Canada/Alaska, US border at 69°39′N 141°00′W is on the shore of what sea?
Who was the actor born on 25 August 1930 who played James Bond in a 1980s film directed by Irvin Kershner? Sean Connery George Lazenby Roger Moors
Answer: Sean Connery
Irvin Kershner directed the 1983 non-Eon Productions Never Say Never Again, the seventh and final Bond film starring Sean Connery. The film‘s title referenced Connery’s 1971 declaration that he would never play the role again. The storyline follows Bond as he investigates the theft of nuclear weapons by SPECTRE. It is based on Ian Fleming’s 1961 novel Thunderball, which was originally written by Kevin McClory, Jack Whittingham, and Fleming. The novel had previously been adapted into the 1965 film Thunderball.
Two
On 25 August 1916, US President Woodrow Wilson signed the … Act, which established the National Park Service. What word completes the name of the act? Operational Organic Oversight
Answer: Organic Act
Stephen Mather, worried about the condition of national parks, was instrumental in founding the National Park Service (NPS) with his assistant Horace Albright through the Organic Act of 1916. They consolidated NPS properties, marketed the parks, and facilitated the establishment of many new parks and monuments. The act sought to preserve and enhance the enjoyment of national parks, monuments, and reservations.
Three
On 25 August 1530, Ivan IV Vasilyevich, commonly known as Ivan the Terrible, was born. He became the Tsar and Grand Prince of all Russia. Was he the… person to hold this position. What word completes the previous sentence? First Fifth Fourteenth
Answer: First
Ivan the Terrible, first Tsar of Russia, transformed Russia into an empire but at a great cost. His later years were marked by paranoia, violence and the massacre of Novgorod, leading to the end of the Rurik dynasty.
Four
On this date in 1825, the Thirty-three Orientals, a revolutionary group, began an insurrection against… Benin Bhutan Brazil
Answer: Brazil
The Treinta y Tres Orientales, led by Lavalleja and Oribe, fought for the independence of Oriental Province from Brazil in 1825, leading to the foundation of modern Uruguay.
Neptune image taken by Voyager 2, August 1989. Image NASA via Wikipedia
Five
On 25 August 1989, the first human-made object to fly by Neptune made its closest approach to the planet. Which spacecraft was it? Viking 1 Voyager 2 Vulcan 3
Answer: Voyager 2
Voyager 2 is the only spacecraft to visit Uranus and Neptune. The probe is now in interstellar space, the region outside the heliopause, or the bubble of energetic particles and magnetic fields from the Sun. — NASA
