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James Meek's debut novel, *McFarlane Boils the Sea*, was published in 1988, the same year he began working for *The Scotsman*.
Answer: False
Explanation: James Meek began working for *The Scotsman* in 1988, but his debut novel, *McFarlane Boils the Sea*, was published in 1989.
James Meek's early fiction was characterized by a style he termed 'magical dirty realism,' drawing influences from authors like Franz Kafka and James Kelman.
Answer: True
Explanation: Meek himself described his early fiction style as 'magical dirty realism,' influenced by authors such as Franz Kafka and James Kelman, and characterized by surrealism and absurdism.
James Meek collaborated with Angus Macfadyen on a play titled *Faculty of Rats*.
Answer: False
Explanation: James Meek collaborated with Duncan McLean on the play *Faculty of Rats*, which notably starred Angus Macfadyen.
James Meek grew up in London and pursued his higher education at the University of Edinburgh.
Answer: False
Explanation: James Meek was born in London but grew up in Dundee, Scotland. He did pursue his higher education at the University of Edinburgh.
James Meek was associated with the experimental realist school of Scottish writers in the 1990s, including Irvine Welsh and Alan Warner.
Answer: True
Explanation: James Meek was associated with the experimental realist school of Scottish writers in the 1990s and early 2000s, alongside authors such as Irvine Welsh and Alan Warner.
Clocktower Press, a small independent publishing house, was founded by James Meek in 1990.
Answer: False
Explanation: James Meek assisted Duncan McLean in founding Clocktower Press in 1990; he was not its sole founder.
James Meek's first collection of short stories, *Last Orders and Other Stories*, was published by Rebel Inc in 1992.
Answer: False
Explanation: James Meek's first collection of short stories, *Last Orders and Other Stories*, was published by Polygon in 1992, not Rebel Inc.
James Meek's second novel, *Drivetime*, was published by Canongate in 1995.
Answer: False
Explanation: James Meek's second novel, *Drivetime*, was published by Polygon in 1995, not Canongate.
James Meek's initial short stories were published in the *New Edinburgh Review*.
Answer: True
Explanation: James Meek's earliest short stories were indeed featured in the *New Edinburgh Review*.
James Meek was born in Dundee, Scotland, around 1962.
Answer: False
Explanation: James Meek was born in London around 1962, though he grew up in Dundee, Scotland.
James Meek's second collection of short stories, *The Museum of Doubt*, was published in 2000.
Answer: True
Explanation: James Meek's second collection of short stories, *The Museum of Doubt*, was published in 2000 by Rebel Inc.
Which city was James Meek born in?
Answer: London
Explanation: James Meek was born in London around 1962, although he grew up in Dundee, Scotland.
What was the title of James Meek's debut novel, published in 1989?
Answer: McFarlane Boils the Sea
Explanation: James Meek's debut novel, published in 1989, was titled *McFarlane Boils the Sea*.
In what year did James Meek assist Duncan McLean in founding Clocktower Press?
Answer: 1990
Explanation: James Meek assisted Duncan McLean in establishing Clocktower Press, a small independent publishing house, in 1990.
Which of the following authors influenced James Meek's early fiction, characterized by 'magical dirty realism'?
Answer: Franz Kafka
Explanation: James Meek's early fiction, described as 'magical dirty realism,' drew influence from authors such as Franz Kafka and James Kelman.
What was James Meek's journalistic role upon his return to Edinburgh in 1988?
Answer: Reporter for The Scotsman
Explanation: Upon his return to Edinburgh in 1988, James Meek worked as a reporter for *The Scotsman*.
Where did James Meek grow up?
Answer: Dundee, Scotland
Explanation: James Meek grew up in Dundee, Scotland, attending Grove Academy in Broughty Ferry.
What was the title of James Meek's first collection of short stories?
Answer: Last Orders and Other Stories
Explanation: James Meek's first collection of short stories, published in 1992, was titled *Last Orders and Other Stories*.
What was the title of the play James Meek collaborated on with Duncan McLean?
Answer: Faculty of Rats
Explanation: James Meek collaborated with Duncan McLean on the play titled *Faculty of Rats*.
James Meek's second novel, *Drivetime*, was published in which year?
Answer: 1995
Explanation: James Meek's second novel, *Drivetime*, was published in 1995.
Which university did James Meek attend for his higher education?
Answer: University of Edinburgh
Explanation: James Meek pursued his higher education at the University of Edinburgh.
James Meek's early fiction was described as 'magical dirty realism' and was marked by what characteristics?
Answer: Surrealism and absurdism
Explanation: Meek's early fiction, termed 'magical dirty realism,' was characterized by surrealism and absurdism, drawing influences from authors like Franz Kafka.
Who edited the short story collection *Children of Albion Rovers*, to which James Meek contributed?
Answer: Kevin Williamson
Explanation: James Meek contributed to the short story collection *Children of Albion Rovers*, which was edited by Kevin Williamson.
James Meek served as the Moscow bureau chief for *The Guardian* starting in 1991, after moving to Kyiv.
Answer: False
Explanation: James Meek moved to Kyiv in 1991, but he became the Moscow bureau chief for *The Guardian* in 1994.
James Meek won the Amnesty International Journalist of the Year award in 2003 for his reporting on the Iraq War.
Answer: False
Explanation: James Meek was named Amnesty International Journalist of the Year in 2004, not 2003.
James Meek concluded his tenure with *The Guardian* in 2005, after relocating to London in 1999.
Answer: True
Explanation: James Meek relocated to London in 1999 and concluded his tenure as a foreign correspondent with *The Guardian* in 2005.
As a journalist, James Meek reported on military conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq after the September 11 attacks.
Answer: True
Explanation: James Meek's journalistic career included reporting on the military conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq following the September 11 attacks.
In 2003, James Meek reported on the Iraq War by entering Iraq from Turkey, accompanying British forces.
Answer: False
Explanation: In 2003, James Meek reported on the Iraq War by crossing from Kuwait into Iraq, following American armies, not from Turkey with British forces.
James Meek received the Reuters-IUCN Media Award in 2002.
Answer: True
Explanation: James Meek was indeed the recipient of the Reuters-IUCN Media Award in 2002 for his journalistic contributions.
For which publication did James Meek serve as the Moscow bureau chief?
Answer: The Guardian
Explanation: James Meek served as the Moscow bureau chief for *The Guardian* from 1994 until 2005.
In what year was James Meek named Amnesty International Journalist of the Year?
Answer: 2004
Explanation: James Meek was honored as the Amnesty International Journalist of the Year in 2004.
Which journalist did James Meek accompany when reporting on the 2003 invasion of Iraq from Kuwait to Baghdad?
Answer: Dexter Filkins
Explanation: In 2003, James Meek reported on the Iraq War, accompanying Dexter Filkins as part of a small group of journalists following American armies from Kuwait to Baghdad.
In what year did James Meek move to Kyiv, Ukraine, as a foreign correspondent?
Answer: 1991
Explanation: James Meek moved to Kyiv, Ukraine, in 1991 to begin his career as a foreign correspondent.
*The People's Act of Love* was set in a small Siberian town during World War II, focusing on a woman and her three lovers.
Answer: False
Explanation: While *The People's Act of Love* is set in a small Siberian town and features a woman and her three lovers, the historical setting is the Russian Civil War, not World War II.
James Meek's novel *We Are Now Beginning Our Descent* won the Costa Book Award in 2008.
Answer: False
Explanation: James Meek's novel *We Are Now Beginning Our Descent* won the Le Prince Maurice Prize in 2008, not the Costa Book Award.
*The People's Act of Love* was translated into over twenty languages and was optioned for a film adaptation by actor Johnny Depp.
Answer: True
Explanation: *The People's Act of Love* achieved international recognition, being translated into more than twenty languages and having its film rights optioned by Johnny Depp.
James Meek's novel *The Heart Broke In* features a plot where a TV producer blackmails a newspaper editor.
Answer: False
Explanation: In *The Heart Broke In*, a newspaper editor blackmails a TV producer, compelling him to betray his own sister.
*The People's Act of Love* was recognized by *Newsweek* magazine as one of the top ten works of fiction of the 1990s.
Answer: False
Explanation: *The People's Act of Love* was recognized by *Newsweek* magazine as one of the top ten works of fiction of the 2000s, not the 1990s.
James Meek's novel *To Calais, In Ordinary Time* was published in 2019 by Verso.
Answer: False
Explanation: James Meek's novel *To Calais, In Ordinary Time* was published by Canongate in 2019, not Verso.
*The People's Act of Love* received the Booker Prize in 2005.
Answer: False
Explanation: *The People's Act of Love* was nominated for the Booker Prize (longlisted), but it did not win the award in 2005.
What historical conflict serves as the setting for James Meek's novel *The People's Act of Love*?
Answer: The Russian Civil War
Explanation: *The People's Act of Love* is set in a small Siberian town during the Russian Civil War.
Which award did *We Are Now Beginning Our Descent* receive in 2008?
Answer: Le Prince Maurice Prize
Explanation: James Meek's novel *We Are Now Beginning Our Descent* was awarded the Le Prince Maurice Prize in 2008.
Which publishing house released James Meek's critically acclaimed novel *The People's Act of Love*?
Answer: Canongate
Explanation: *The People's Act of Love* was published by Canongate in 2005.
James Meek's novel *The Heart Broke In* was shortlisted for which award in 2012?
Answer: Costa Book Award
Explanation: In 2012, James Meek's novel *The Heart Broke In* was shortlisted for the Costa Book Award.
Which of the following is NOT one of James Meek's published novels?
Answer: The Museum of Doubt
Explanation: *The Museum of Doubt* is James Meek's second collection of short stories, whereas *McFarlane Boils the Sea*, *Drivetime*, and *The Heart Broke In* are all novels.
Which of James Meek's novels tells the story of a journalist traveling to Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks?
Answer: We Are Now Beginning Our Descent
Explanation: *We Are Now Beginning Our Descent*, published in 2008, narrates the story of a journalist's journey to Afghanistan in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
Which of these awards did *The People's Act of Love* NOT receive?
Answer: Orwell Book Prize
Explanation: *The People's Act of Love* received the Scottish Arts Council Book of Year Award and the Ondaatje Prize, and was longlisted for the Booker Prize. The Orwell Book Prize is not listed among its accolades.
What was the title of James Meek's novel published by Canongate in 2019?
Answer: To Calais, In Ordinary Time
Explanation: James Meek's novel *To Calais, In Ordinary Time* was published by Canongate in 2019.
*Private Island*, a collection of essays by James Meek, primarily examines the privatization of British public services and was published by Verso in 2014.
Answer: True
Explanation: The non-fiction work *Private Island*, published by Verso in 2014, is a collection of essays that critically examines the privatization of Britain.
James Meek was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2015, the same year he won the Orwell Book Prize.
Answer: False
Explanation: James Meek won the Orwell Book Prize in 2015, but he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2020.
James Meek has published a total of six novels, two collections of short stories, and two non-fiction books.
Answer: True
Explanation: James Meek's published works include six novels, two collections of short stories, and two non-fiction books.
James Meek's non-fiction work *Dreams of Leaving and Remaining* was published by Verso in 2019.
Answer: True
Explanation: The non-fiction work *Dreams of Leaving and Remaining* by James Meek was indeed published by Verso in 2019.
James Meek won the Orwell Book Prize in 2015 for his novel *The People's Act of Love*.
Answer: False
Explanation: James Meek won the Orwell Book Prize in 2015, but the provided information does not specify that it was for his novel *The People's Act of Love*.
James Meek is currently a contributing editor for the *London Review of Books*.
Answer: True
Explanation: James Meek currently holds the position of contributing editor for the *London Review of Books*.
What is the primary subject matter of James Meek's non-fiction book *Private Island*?
Answer: The privatization of Britain
Explanation: *Private Island* is a collection of essays that critically examines the privatization of Britain.
In what year was James Meek elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature?
Answer: 2020
Explanation: James Meek was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2020.
What award did James Meek win in 2015 for his non-fiction work *Private Island*?
Answer: Orwell Book Prize
Explanation: James Meek won the Orwell Book Prize in 2015, an award dedicated to recognizing excellence in political writing, for his non-fiction work *Private Island*.
What is James Meek's current professional role within the literary world?
Answer: Contributing editor for the London Review of Books
Explanation: James Meek currently serves as a contributing editor for the *London Review of Books*.
Which publishing house released James Meek's non-fiction work *Dreams of Leaving and Remaining*?
Answer: Verso
Explanation: James Meek's non-fiction work *Dreams of Leaving and Remaining* was published by Verso in 2019.