Famous First Novels
This 1818 novel about a scientist who creates life from dead tissue was the first published novel by a teenage author who would become a giant of Gothic literature.
What is Frankenstein?
Born Eric Arthur Blair, this British author used a pen name when writing 1984 and Animal Farm.
Who is George Orwell?
Created by C.S. Lewis, this magical land can be reached through a wardrobe and is home to the noble lion Aslan, the Pevensie children, and the White Witch.
Narnia?
This flatbread from Naples became a worldwide favorite after being topped with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil — ingredients said to represent the colors of the Italian flag.
What is pizza Margherita?
Their rivalry helped define the NBA in the 1980s, with one leading the Boston Celtics and the other becoming the face of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Who are Larry Bird and Magic Johnson?
This 1945 novel about a group of children stranded on an island was the debut novel of William Golding.
What is the Lord of the Flies?
Born David Robert Jones, this musician created the persona Ziggy Stardust and became one of rock’s most influential performers.
Who is David Bowie?
First appearing in J.M. Barrie’s stories, this fictional place is where Peter Pan battles pirates and escapes the responsibilities of adulthood.
What is Neverland?
This creamy dessert made with coffee-soaked ladyfingers, mascarpone cheese, and cocoa has a name that roughly translates to “pick me up.”
What is tiramisu?
These two inventors battled over the future of electricity, with one championing direct current and the other promoting alternating current.
Who are Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla?
This 1967 novel about a young woman’s coming-of-age in the American South was the first novel by Maya Angelou.
What is I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings?
Born Issur Danielovitch, this actor became a Hollywood legend, starring in Spartacus and helping define the era of the movie star.
Who is Kirk Douglas?
This fictional North Carolina town is the setting of The Andy Griffith Show, where Sheriff Andy Taylor keeps the peace.
What is Mayberry?
This hard Italian cheese, often called the “King of Cheeses,” is aged for years and is traditionally produced in the regions of Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy.
What is Parmigiano-Reggiano?
This famous Hollywood feud began when two actresses starred together in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? and later became one of cinema’s most infamous rivalries.
Who are Better Davis and Joan Crawford?
This 1973 novel about an possessed young girl became one of the bestselling horror novels of all time and was the first novel by William Peter Blatty.
What is The Exorcist?
Born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, this performer created a stage persona inspired by Queen’s “Radio Ga Ga” and became one of pop music’s biggest stars.
Who is Lady Gaga?
This fictional city serves as the home of Batman, with it's dark streets, Wayne Manor, and Arkham Asylum.
What is Gotham City?
This famous Italian cured ham from Parma is protected by strict production rules and is often served thinly sliced with melon or cheese.
What is prosciutto di Parma?
This boxing rivalry produced three legendary fights, including the 1975 bout in the Philippines known as the “Thrilla in Manila.”
Who are Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier?
This 1965 science fiction epic about the desert planet Arrakis was the first major novel by Frank Herbert and became one of the most influential works in the genre.
What is Dune?
Born Bernard Schwartz, this actor changed his name before starring in films including The Sweet Smell of Success and The Defiant Ones.
Who is Tony Curtis?
This small English village is home to Bilbo Baggins, Frodo Baggins, and many of the peaceful inhabitants of Tolkien’s Middle-earth.
What is the Shire?
This cured meat from central Italy is often confused with bacon, but unlike bacon it is made from pork jowl or cheek, and is regular found in Roman pastas.
What is guanciale?
This American chess prodigy and Soviet grandmaster faced off in Reykjavík in 1972 in a Cold War-era showdown known as the “Match of the Century.”
Who are Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky?