An Introduction to General Knowledge
Compiled by Stanley Prince

Knowledge of facts can lead to fame and fortune, judging from the many quiz shows on TV and radio, and pub quizzes can be fun. Although there probably is no educational research to prove the assertion, there seems to be little doubt that fact-based learning in schools stimulates children to learn more, and the enthusiasm of young students who take part in inter-school quizzes is infectious and encourages the gain of knowledge by others.

What makes this introductory compendium of general knowledge different from the many unwieldy encyclopaedias and other reference books is its special presentation and selection of information, as the quotes below testify, for the author/compiler has wide experience in coaching school teams, setting quizzes in pubs and competing in national quiz competitions. Apart from its use educationally, however, the book has proved to be an ideal present for family members on many occasions.

Reviews: What a really excellent book it is … I not only glanced at it, I positively devoured it. What impressed me in particular was the way in which it is designed to stimulate interest and a desire to find out more. The late Magnus Magnusson KBE, former Quizmaster of the BBC TV programme ‘Mastermind’.

[It is]…the ideal quick reference introduction for serious quiz players, from the pub to the television studio. Kevin Ashman, ‘Mastermind’ Champion 1995, ‘Brain of Britain’ 1996, ‘Brain of Brains’ and ‘Top Brain’ 1998, ‘15–1 Millennium Quiz’ Champion 1999, former question-setter for ‘Brain of Britain’, British, European and World Quiz Champion 2004–06.

A positive cornucopia of dedicated informative knowledge suitable for both the young aficionado in pursuit of a stable grounding or the more seasoned knowledge expert as a means of revision and self-testing. Trevor Montague, Organizer and Question-setter National Quiz Championship, former ‘Today’s the Day’ and ‘Brain of London’ Champion and compiler of the ‘A to Z of Nearly Everything’ and ‘A to Z of Sport’.

Compiled by a quizmaster with years of experience, this book is perfect for adults and equally good for school teams. We regularly use it for ‘Schools Challenge’. Paul and Sue Sims, National Organizers, Schools Challenge.

We regularly use Stanley Prince’s excellent book … to help teams train for the University Challenge-type questions that appear in Junior Schools Challenge … Those in the team are perfectly happy committing sections to memory. Christopher Nickless, former Headmaster of King’s Preparatory School, Rochester.

Contents: History: Brief Chronicle of Significant Events: 5000 BC–AD 2007; Kings and Queens of England; Kings and Queens of Britain; Important Kings and Queens of Scotland; Important Kings of Ireland; Important Sovereign Princes of Wales; Royal Homes; Prime Ministers of Britain; Parliaments; Presidents of the United States; Inventors; Assassinations; Some Historically Famous Horses; The 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. Religion: Key Facts about World Religions; Some Religious Movements; Organizations and Associations; The Bible; Important Saints’ Days; Quarter Days; Patron Saints (Countries and Cities). The Roman World: Roman Emperors; Roman Names of English Towns and Cities; Roman Names of Islands; Roman Names of Countries; Roman Numerals. Mythology: Egyptian; Greek (Classical); The Twelve Labours of Heracles (Hercules); Norse (Scandinavian); Hindu; Arthurian Legends. Geography: World Physical – Mountains; Rivers; Islands; Oceans; Lakes; Deserts; Some Towns and Rivers of the British Isles; Natives of British Cities, Counties, Islands; Slang Terms; Poetic Names of Countries; UK Counties & Administrative Capitals; Counties & county towns of Northern Ireland; Countries – Capitals – Currencies (by Continent); The United States of America, Its States – Capitals – Nicknames, Other Major Cities; Canada – Provinces – Capitals; Australia – States – Capitals. Sea Vessels: Voyages of Exploration and Discovery; Some Famous Ships; Ships of World War II; The Falklands War; Famous Liners; Oil Tanker Disasters; Submarines; Yachts; Watches on Board Ship; Sea Areas. Mathematics: Numbers; Basic Geometry. Computers and Computing: Inside a Computer; Units of Data; Computer Software; Computer Programming Languages; Terminology; Some Abbreviations; Well Known Acronyms. Physics: The Spectrum; Thermometers (scales of temperature). Chemistry: Chemical Elements and their Symbols; Ores; Alloys; Chemical Compounds and their Familiar Names. Life Sciences: Bones of the Body; Anatomical Adjectives; Medical Terminology; Medical Discoveries; Flowers and Plants; Gardens, Garden and Landscape Designers. Psychology. Astronomy: The Planets; the Asteroid Belt; Speed of Light; Distances from the Earth. Music: Opera; Operettas and Light Operas; Classical Composers (by nationality); Musical Theatre; Musical Themes; Films based on Composers’ Lives; Musical Instructions; Values of Musical Notes. Art: Some Major Art Galleries; Artists (by nationality). Sculpture. Architecture: Architectural Styles, British Architects; British Engineers. Philosophy. Literature: Novelists (by nationality); Children’s Literature; Horror Story Writers; Detective Story Writers; Science Fiction Writers; Poets; Literary Pseudonyms. The Theatre: Some Theatres of the British Isles; Dramatists (by nationality). The Cinema: Film Directors (an A – Z). Animal World: Some Facts about Dogs; Dwelling Places of Creatures; Group Names – Collective Nouns of Animals, Marine and Aquatic Mammals, Fish, Birds, Insects; Creatures and their Young; Animal Adjectives. Words: Phobias; Collectors and Collections. Miscellaneous: Wedding Anniversaries; Traditional Birthstones; Signs of the Zodiac; The Greek Alphabet; The Phonetic Code or Alphabet; Morse Code; Heraldic Colours; Nobility; Ranks of British Commissioned Officers; Some World War II Codenames; Prisons; World Airlines; National Airports; International Airports; Main Railway Stations; International Car Registrations. Food and Drink: Varieties of Vegetables; Varieties of Fruit; Cheeses; Wines; Sizes of Wine Bottles; Cocktails; Sauces. Sport: Olympic Games Venues; Sports Trophies; Association Football (Soccer); Cricket; Rugby Union; Lawn Tennis; Golf; Snooker; Horse Racing; Motor Racing; Number of Players in a Team. Games: Chess.

The front-cover illustration is a detail from the painting by Leo Stevenson that is based on W. F. Yeames’s ‘And When Did You Last See Your Father?’ It was painted to mark the end of the original form of Mastermind on BBC Television in 1997, and presented to the Quizmaster, Magnus Magnusson, on his retirement. Apart from the girl and boy in the painting, the faces of the other people are members of the production team and participants. The inquisitor is Magnusson himself. Cartoons in the book are by Malcolm Lawson-Paul.

The Author: Stanley Prince gained his degree in modern languages and philosophy, and his postgraduate certificate in education, in London, while studying for some time at the Universities of Bonn and Grenoble. His previous book is A Guide to French Grammar (also published by Packard Publishing Limited). He is an accomplished chess player and reached the level of playing two International Grand Masters, securing a draw against one of them. He is also a passionate theatre-goer, serving on the 1995–96 Laurence Olivier Awards Panel, and sees about 100 plays and shows a year, while retaining a similar enthusiasm for the cinema, art, music, sport and travel. Mr Prince has coached his school general knowledge team (The Prebendal School, Chichester) since 1981. During a twenty-three year period (1984–2007) the team reached the final of the Wessex (South of England) Region of the Junior (under 14) Schools Challenge Competition seventeen times, winning on nine occasions. Six of its victories led the team, via an inter-regional contest, to the UK national finals, culminating in the team being crowned UK National Champions in June 2000 and runners-up in 2007. On a more personal level, Stanley Prince has appeared on BBC’s Masterteam and Channel 4’s 15-1, while the quiz league team he represented won the Championship of Chichester five years in succession (1990–94) and several other regional contests. In 1998 he established a new record by winning 18 successive editions of Channel 5’s 100% Gold.

Date of publication: 2000, revised 2004, 2007.
ISBN: 978 185341 126 7 (paperback only).
Pages: 208; Dimensions: A5 – 210 x 148 mm.
Price: £7.99