A Pointless quiz

In The Very Pointless Quiz Book comes a collection of 100 of the finest questions from the hugely popular ratings-winning BBC One TV show Pointless. Hosts Alexander Armstrong and Richard Osman guide you through the rounds as you battle it out against your friends and family for Pointless glory.

But first here's a very special quiz written by Richard and Alexander themselves on a subject very close to all our hearts: books!

A Pointless Quiz

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Question 1

What is commonly regarded to be Charles Dickens’ biggest selling novel, with over 200 million copies sold?

A	Great Expectations
B	A Tale Of Two Cities
C	Oliver Twist

Question 1 Explanation: 

By some estimates, Great Expectations is the biggest selling novel in the history of the world.

Question 2

What is notable about Ernest Vincent Wright’s novel ‘Gadsby’ published in 1959?

A	It is a word for word copy of ‘The Great Gatsby with every adjective removed.
B	It begins with the word ‘Enter’ and is completely blank thereafter.
C	It does not contain a single letter ‘e’.

Question 2 Explanation: 

The book is 50,000 words long.

Question 3

‘Puckle’ was an original surname of which character before the author hard a change of heart?

A	Lady Chatterley
B	Hermione Grainger
C	Bridget Jones

Question 3 Explanation: 

JK Rowling originally named her "Hermione Puckle", but Rowling felt the name "did not suit her at all".

Question 4

And ‘Ormond Sacker’ was an original name for which other character?

A	Dr. Watson
B	Jacob Marley
C	John Boot

Question 4 Explanation: 

Holmes and Sacker doesn't have quite the same ring to it.

Question 5

On Nielsen’s ranking of the best selling UK books of all time, the entire top 10 is taken up by three authors – JK Rowling, Dan Brown and EL James. Who is the next highest author on the list?

A	Stephenie Meyer
B	Bill Bryson
C	Mark Haddon

Question 5 Explanation: 

Both Bill Bryson and Mark Haddon are in the top 20

Question 6

Which first name has been most represented among Booker/Man Booker Prize nominees with 6 separate nominees?

A	Elizabeth
B	John
C	Michael

Question 6 Explanation: 

There have been 5 Michaels and 3 Elizabeths.

Question 7

Which of these is not a book in the Jason Bourne series started by Robert Ludlum?

A	The Bourne Dominion
B	The Bourne Ascendancy
C	The Bourne Imperative

Question 7 Explanation: 

Though it definitely should be!

Question 8

Which of these writers has NOT won the Nobel Prize in Literature?

A	Winston Churchill
B	Iris Murdoch
C	Rudyard Kipling

Question 8 Explanation: 

Kipling won in 1907 and Churchill in 1953.

Question 9

I love my local Waterstones in Chiswick (Hi everyone!). But which shop has just opened next door to it, to the consternation of some locals?

A	Poundland
B	Ann Summers
C	McDonalds

Question 9 Explanation: 

It used to be a McDonalds.

Question 10

Which of these items was the first entry in our previous book, The 100 Most Pointless Things In The World?

A	Rail replacement bus services
B	Pandas
C	Cushions on beds

Question 10 Explanation: 

The book is still available in all branches of Waterstones.

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You can Click & Collect The Very Pointless Quiz Book from your local Waterstones bookshop or buy it online at Waterstones.com.