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Books Quiz - Genre - Autobiographies 3 (Questions)

In the 19th Century the idea of fame and celebrity began to develop, and the new ‘stars’ soon wrote autobiographies. Writers, politicians, philosophers and cardinals all wrote their memoires and even the circus founder P. T. Barnum cashed in. These books differed from earlier memoires as they contained accounts of the stars' childhoods rather than dealing only with their public achievements. The autobiography that we are familiar with today was beginning to take form.

Maybe everyone has an inbuilt yearning to write or maybe the famous simply cannot resist the financial incentives offered to autobiographers! Some of them are talented writers, whilst some would have done better to leave the writing to others! Whatever your views about celebrities memoires, you will find that Mark Twain, Liz Smith, Terry-Thomas, Adolf Hitler and Katie Price have each filled a book with information about themselves. Why not have a go at this quiz and test yourself on the subject of autobiographies?

1. Which British actor wrote the 1997 autobiography My Name Escapes Me?
[ ] Sean Connery
[ ] Alec Guinness
[ ] Richard Harris
[ ] Peter O'Toole
2. What is the title of the 1990 autobiography of comedian Terry-Thomas?
[ ] Terry-Thomas Tells All
[ ] Terry-Thomas Tells Everything
[ ] Terry-Thomas Tells Stories
[ ] Terry-Thomas Tells Tales
3. Which tennis star wrote the 1999 autobiography Tennis Trailblazer?
[ ] Jimmy Connors
[ ] Billie Jean King
[ ] Ilie Nastase
[ ] Martina Navratilova
4. Which Hollywood star wrote the 1995 autobiography In the Arena?
[ ] Tony Curtis
[ ] Kirk Douglas
[ ] Charlton Heston
[ ] Rod Steiger
5. What is the title of Mark Twain's 1883 autobiography describing his experiences as a steamboat pilot?
[ ] Life on the Bridge
[ ] Life on the Deck
[ ] Life on the Mississippi
[ ] Life on the River
6. What is the English translation of the title of Adolf Hitler's autobiographical work Mein Kampf?
[ ] My Destiny
[ ] My Duty
[ ] My Future
[ ] My Struggle
7. Who wrote the 1985 autobiography Just Williams?
[ ] Andy Williams
[ ] Charlie Williams
[ ] Kenneth Williams
[ ] Rowan Williams
8. What is the title of Katie Price's 2004 autobiography?
[ ] Being Famous
[ ] Being Jordan
[ ] Being Me
[ ] Being There
9. What is the title of comedy actress Liz Smith's 2006 autobiography?
[ ] Our Bet
[ ] Our Betty
[ ] Our Liz
[ ] Our Lizzy
10. Thora Hird's 2003 autobiography borrowed its title from which song from the musical South Pacific?
[ ] A Cockeyed Optimist
[ ] Happy Talk
[ ] Nothing Like a Dame
[ ] Younger Than Springtime

 

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Books Quiz - Genre - Autobiographies 3 (Answers)
1. Which British actor wrote the 1997 autobiography My Name Escapes Me?
[ ] Sean Connery
[x] Alec Guinness
[ ] Richard Harris
[ ] Peter O'Toole
The subtitle is The Diary of a Retiring Actor
2. What is the title of the 1990 autobiography of comedian Terry-Thomas?
[ ] Terry-Thomas Tells All
[ ] Terry-Thomas Tells Everything
[ ] Terry-Thomas Tells Stories
[x] Terry-Thomas Tells Tales
The book was not published until after his death
3. Which tennis star wrote the 1999 autobiography Tennis Trailblazer?
[ ] Jimmy Connors
[x] Billie Jean King
[ ] Ilie Nastase
[ ] Martina Navratilova
King won Wimbledon 6 times during the 1960s and 70s
4. Which Hollywood star wrote the 1995 autobiography In the Arena?
[ ] Tony Curtis
[ ] Kirk Douglas
[x] Charlton Heston
[ ] Rod Steiger
Heston wrote 6 other books including The Courage to be Free and To Be a Man: Letters to My Grandson
5. What is the title of Mark Twain's 1883 autobiography describing his experiences as a steamboat pilot?
[ ] Life on the Bridge
[ ] Life on the Deck
[x] Life on the Mississippi
[ ] Life on the River
This is thought to be the first book written using a typewriter
6. What is the English translation of the title of Adolf Hitler's autobiographical work Mein Kampf?
[ ] My Destiny
[ ] My Duty
[ ] My Future
[x] My Struggle
Hitler originally wanted to call his book Viereinhalb Jahre (des Kampfes) gegen Lüge, Dummheit und Feigheit which translates into English as Four and a Half Years (of Struggle) against lies, stupidity and cowardice
7. Who wrote the 1985 autobiography Just Williams?
[ ] Andy Williams
[ ] Charlie Williams
[x] Kenneth Williams
[ ] Rowan Williams
Kenneth wrote 5 other books - Acid Drops, Back Drops, I Only Have To Close My Eyes, The Kenneth Williams Diaries and The Kenneth Williams Letters
8. What is the title of Katie Price's 2004 autobiography?
[ ] Being Famous
[x] Being Jordan
[ ] Being Me
[ ] Being There
Katie Price is the real name of Jordan the glamour model
9. What is the title of comedy actress Liz Smith's 2006 autobiography?
[ ] Our Bet
[x] Our Betty
[ ] Our Liz
[ ] Our Lizzy
She also wrote a series of short stories called Jottings: Flights of Fancy
10. Thora Hird's 2003 autobiography borrowed its title from which song from the musical South Pacific?
[ ] A Cockeyed Optimist
[ ] Happy Talk
[x] Nothing Like a Dame
[ ] Younger Than Springtime
This was the second of Thora's autobiographies. The first, Scene and Hird was written in 1976