Authors Practice Questions
20 free Authors practice questions for the Static GK. Tap an option to answer — you get instant feedback, the correct answer, and a detailed explanation for every question.
Who is the author of the epic Sanskrit masterpiece 'Abhijnanashakuntalam'?
- A Kalidasa
- B Bhasa
- C Vishakhadatta
- D Bharavi
Correct answer: Kalidasa
Kalidasa is widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in the Sanskrit language. 'Abhijnanashakuntalam' is his most famous play, telling the story of King Dushyanta and Shakuntala.
Which English author wrote the dystopian novel '1984', introducing concepts like Big Brother and Newspeak?
- A George Orwell
- B Aldous Huxley
- C Ray Bradbury
- D H.G. Wells
Correct answer: George Orwell
George Orwell, the pen name of Eric Arthur Blair, published '1984' in 1949. The novel is a classic social science fiction piece centered on the consequences of totalitarianism and mass surveillance.
The famous detective character 'Sherlock Holmes' was created by which author?
- A Arthur Conan Doyle
- B Agatha Christie
- C Raymond Chandler
- D Robert Louis Stevenson
Correct answer: Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle introduced Sherlock Holmes in 'A Study in Scarlet' in 1887. He wrote four novels and fifty-six short stories featuring the detective and his companion, Dr. Watson.
Who authored the historical work 'The Discovery of India' during his imprisonment in Ahmednagar Fort?
- A Jawaharlal Nehru
- B Mahatma Gandhi
- C Subhash Chandra Bose
- D Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Correct answer: Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru wrote 'The Discovery of India' between 1942 and 1945. The book provides a broad analysis of Indian history, philosophy, and culture from the perspective of a leader of the independence movement.
Which Russian author wrote the monumental novels 'War and Peace' and 'Anna Karenina'?
- A Fyodor Dostoevsky
- B Maxim Gorky
- C Ivan Turgenev
- D Leo Tolstoy
Correct answer: Leo Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy is considered one of the greatest authors of all time. 'War and Peace' is particularly noted for its vast scope, detailing the Napoleonic invasion of Russia through the eyes of several aristocratic families.
The 'Harry Potter' series, one of the best-selling book series in history, was written by:
- A Stephenie Meyer
- B J.K. Rowling
- C Suzanne Collins
- D Rick Riordan
Correct answer: J.K. Rowling
J.K. Rowling conceived the idea for the series in 1990 while on a delayed train. The seven-book series follows the adventures of a young wizard and has been translated into over 80 languages.
Who is the author of the ancient Indian political treatise 'Arthashastra'?
- A Chanakya
- B Megasthenes
- C Chandragupta Maurya
- D Ashoka
Correct answer: Chanakya
Chanakya, also known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta, was the prime minister to Chandragupta Maurya. The 'Arthashastra' is a comprehensive manual on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy.
Which American author won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954 and wrote 'The Old Man and the Sea'?
- A John Steinbeck
- B William Faulkner
- C Ernest Hemingway
- D F. Scott Fitzgerald
Correct answer: Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway wrote 'The Old Man and the Sea' in Cuba in 1951. It was the last major work of fiction published during his lifetime and played a significant role in his Nobel Prize selection.
The book 'The God of Small Things', which won the Booker Prize in 1997, was written by:
- A Jhumpa Lahiri
- B Arundhati Roy
- C Kiran Desai
- D Anita Desai
Correct answer: Arundhati Roy
Arundhati Roy's debut novel 'The God of Small Things' explores the lives of fraternal twins in Kerala, India. It deals with complex themes like the 'Love Laws' that dictate who should be loved and how much.
Who wrote the famous diary 'The Diary of a Young Girl' while hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam?
- A Elie Wiesel
- B Anne Frank
- C Primo Levi
- D Hannah Arendt
Correct answer: Anne Frank
Anne Frank received a diary for her 13th birthday and chronicled her life in hiding from 1942 to 1944. Published posthumously, it has become one of the most widely read accounts of the Holocaust.
The collection of poems 'Gitanjali', for which Rabindranath Tagore won the Nobel Prize, was originally written in which language?
- A Hindi
- B Bengali
- C Sanskrit
- D English
Correct answer: Bengali
Rabindranath Tagore originally wrote 'Gitanjali' (Song Offerings) in Bengali. He became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 after the publication of his own English translations.
Which author wrote 'The Origin of Species', fundamentally changing the scientific understanding of life?
- A Gregor Mendel
- B Charles Darwin
- C Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
- D Alfred Russel Wallace
Correct answer: Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin published 'On the Origin of Species' in 1859. The book introduced the scientific theory that populations evolve over generations through a process of natural selection.
The novel 'Les Misérables' and 'The Hunchback of Notre-Dame' were written by which French author?
- A Gustave Flaubert
- B Victor Hugo
- C Alexandre Dumas
- D Émile Zola
Correct answer: Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo was a leading figure of the Romantic movement in France. His works often addressed social injustice and human rights, with 'Les Misérables' being one of the greatest novels of the 19th century.
Who wrote the famous play 'Waiting for Godot', a cornerstone of the Theatre of the Absurd?
- A Eugene O'Neill
- B Harold Pinter
- C Tennessee Williams
- D Samuel Beckett
Correct answer: Samuel Beckett
Samuel Beckett, an Irish novelist and playwright, wrote 'Waiting for Godot' originally in French. The play explores themes of existentialism and the human condition through two characters waiting for someone who never arrives.
Which Indian author wrote the 'Malgudi Days' short story collection?
- A Raja Rao
- B Mulk Raj Anand
- C R.K. Narayan
- D Vikram Seth
Correct answer: R.K. Narayan
R.K. Narayan created the fictional South Indian town of Malgudi. His works are known for their simplicity and gentle humor, depicting the ironies of daily life in India.
Who authored 'The Catcher in the Rye', a novel famous for its portrayal of teenage angst and alienation?
- A Jack Kerouac
- B Truman Capote
- C Harper Lee
- D J.D. Salinger
Correct answer: J.D. Salinger
J.D. Salinger published 'The Catcher in the Rye' in 1951. The protagonist, Holden Caulfield, has become an icon for adolescent rebellion and the search for authenticity.
The classic novel 'Pride and Prejudice' was written by which female author?
- A Charlotte Brontë
- B Emily Brontë
- C Jane Austen
- D Aphra Behn
Correct answer: Jane Austen
Jane Austen published 'Pride and Prejudice' in 1813. The novel is celebrated for its wit and social commentary regarding marriage, money, and manners in the British Regency era.
Which writer is known as the 'Bard of Avon' and wrote 'Hamlet' and 'Macbeth'?
- A Christopher Marlowe
- B Ben Jonson
- C John Milton
- D William Shakespeare
Correct answer: William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon. He is regarded as the world's pre-eminent dramatist, having written 39 plays and 154 sonnets that remain central to Western literature.
Who is the author of the autobiographical work 'Wings of Fire'?
- A A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
- B Khushwant Singh
- C Rabindranath Tagore
- D Amartya Sen
Correct answer: A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the former President of India, co-authored 'Wings of Fire' with Arun Tiwari. It traces his early life and his career in India's space and missile programs.
Which Colombian author wrote the 'Magical Realism' masterpiece 'One Hundred Years of Solitude'?
- A Mario Vargas Llosa
- B Miguel Ángel Asturias
- C Isabel Allende
- D Gabriel García Márquez
Correct answer: Gabriel García Márquez
Gabriel García Márquez won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982. 'One Hundred Years of Solitude' tells the multi-generational story of the Buendía family in the fictional town of Macondo.