Q 01/05

What was George Orwell's real name?

A) Edward Allan Burton

B) Eric Arthur Blair

C) Ernest Alfred Bell

D) Evelyn Arthur Blake

Answer · why

B) Eric Arthur Blair

He adopted the pen name in 1932 for his first book so that his family would not be embarrassed by his tramping.

Q 02/05

In which country was Orwell born?

A) Ceylon

B) England

C) Burma

D) India

Answer · why

D) India

His father worked in the Opium Department of the Indian Civil Service; his birthplace bungalow in Motihari opened as a museum in 2015.

Q 03/05

Orwell's father worked in which branch of the Indian Civil Service?

A) The Railways Department

B) The Opium Department

C) The Salt Department

D) The Forestry Department

Answer · why

B) The Opium Department

Richard Blair was a sub-deputy opium agent overseeing production and storage of opium for sale to China.

Q 04/05

Which future writer did Orwell first meet at St Cyprian's prep school in Eastbourne?

A) Evelyn Waugh

B) Graham Greene

C) Cyril Connolly

D) Anthony Powell

Answer · why

C) Cyril Connolly

Connolly later edited Horizon and published several of Orwell's essays; Orwell came second to him in the Harrow History Prize.

Q 05/05

When Orwell first met his childhood sweetheart Jacintha Buddicom, what was he doing?

A) Shooting at tin cans

B) Reading up a tree

C) Standing on his head in a field

D) Fishing in a river

Answer · why

C) Standing on his head in a field

Asked why, he explained that you are noticed more upside down than the right way up.