Italo Calvino is definitely my sort of nonsense.
Questions
Adapted into a 1984 film with Marcelo Mastroianni in the title role, the play “Henry IV” was by which Italian author who went on to win the 1934 Nobel Prize in Literature?
LUIGI PIRANDELLO
Divided into 12 books and featuring the Greek love rat Theseus, which epic poem by Giovanni Boccaccio was the basis for Chaucer’s “The Knight’s Tale”?
TESEIDA
Part of the commedia dell’arte genre, which 18th century play by Carlo Gondoni features a harlequin named Truffaldino who is first in the employ of Beatrice and then Florindo, with their relationship making up part of the plot?
THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS
Although named for the Greek hero Theseus, the subtitle of Boccaccio’s “Teseida” concerns the nuptials of which sister to the Amazon queen Hippolyta?
EMILIA / EMILY
Other than “The Knight’s Tale”, which 1634 work of literature is based on Boccaccio’s “Teseida”, seeing the re-appearance of the characters Theseus, Hippolyta and Emilia?
THE TWO NOBLE KINSMEN
Their first date occurring on 16 June 1904, what was the first name of Jame Joyce’s wife who was born with the surname Barnacle? A 2000 film of this name sees Ewan McGregor portray the Irish writer.
NORA
A group associated with experimental writing that included the likes of Georges Perec and Italo Calvino, OuLiPo is short for what French phrase?
OUVROIR DE LITTÉRATURE POTENTIELLE
Featuring a literature professor called Leda, which Elena Ferrante novel was adapted into a 2021 film that received three nominations at the Oscars?
THE LOST DAUGHTER
Set in Naples, which Elena Ferrante novel was adapted into an Italian language Netflix series that was released in 2023 and ran for six episodes? That adaptation included “Rain Man” actress and double David di Donatello Award winner Valeria Golino among its cast.
THE LYING LIFE OF ADULTS
Included with “The Baron in the Trees” and “The Nonexistent Knight” in Italo Calvino’s “Our Ancestors”, “The Cloven Viscount” features a noble from Terralba with what name? This is shared by an Italian sculptor with the surname Rosso who was a contemporary of Auguste Rodin.
MEDARDO (OF TERRALBA)
The wife of Alberto Moravia, Elsa Morante wrote which 1974 novel that was adapted into a 1986 film starring Claudia Cardinale? Its theatrical release was over two hours long, with there also being a television version that runs to over four hours.
LA STORIA / HISTORY
Whittipedia 