John Dobbins and Mary Ochs’s addictive “First Lines” quizzes enlivened and sabotaged my work week (thanks–I think–to Household Opera for the link). They are (yay) many. But (sigh) finite. Helplessly craving another fix, I’ve raided my own bookshelves for more. I beg forgiveness for the copycatting.
Here are the first lines of 10 works of fiction, arranged by length. The works they come from were published between 1749 and 1991. One is a translation.
1. In that pleasant district of merry England which is watered by the river Don, there extended in ancient times a large forest, covering the greater part of the beautiful hills and valleys which lie between Sheffield and the pleasant town of Doncaster.
2. An author ought to consider himself, not as a gentleman who gives a private or eleemosynary treat, but rather as one who keeps a public ordinary, at which all persons are welcome for their money.
3. At the time when this story begins, the Stanhope press and inking-rollers were not yet in use in small provincial printing-offices.
4. On a January evening of the early seventies, Christine Nilsson was singing in Faust at the Academy of Music in New York.
5. You are not going to believe me, nobody in their right minds could possibly believe me, but it’s true, really it is!
6. The mental features discoursed of as the analytical, are, in themselves, but little susceptible of analysis.
7. The schoolmaster was leaving the village, and everybody seemed sorry.
8. The book was thick and black and covered with dust.
9. One never knows when the blow may fall.
10. In Africa, you want more, I think.
Answers will appear Monday. In the meantime, if you would like to submit your answers for recognition, email them to the usual address (but please put “OGIC” in the subject line). Top scorers will get… recognition!