- 1. The Invisible Woman by Claire Tomalin is a biographical account that delves into the life of Nelly Ternan, a young actress who became the long-time mistress of the renowned Victorian author Charles Dickens. Tomalin intricately explores the complexities of Ternan's life, illustrating how she navigated the societal constraints of the 19th century while maintaining her own dignity and sense of self amid a deeply secretive romantic relationship. The book not only paints a vivid picture of Ternan as an individual, shedding light on her personal struggles and aspirations, but it also contextualizes her within the bustling theatrical world of the time and Dickens's own turbulent personal life. Through meticulous research and engaging narrative, Tomalin reveals the often-overlooked role that women like Ternan played in the lives of prominent men, emphasizing themes of love, sacrifice, and the pursuit of agency in a patriarchal society. The narrative invites readers to reconsider the legacy of Dickens not only as an iconic literary figure but also as a man whose private life was marked by personal contradictions and the quiet resilience of the women connected to him, ultimately allowing Nelly Ternan to emerge from the shadows and find her voice in history.
Nelly Ternan had a secret long-term relationship with which famous Victorian novelist?
A) Charles Dickens
B) George Eliot
C) William Makepeace Thackeray
D) Anthony Trollope
- 2. How old was Nelly Ternan when she first met Charles Dickens?
A) 16
B) 25
C) 18
D) 21
- 3. What was the profession of Nelly Ternan and her family?
A) Actors
B) Musicians
C) Painters
D) Writers
- 4. In which country did Dickens and Ternan suffer a serious train crash in 1865?
A) England
B) United States
C) France
D) Italy
- 5. What was the primary reason this relationship was kept secret?
A) Ternan was from a criminal family.
B) Dickens was a married public figure.
C) Dickens was afraid of his publisher.
D) Ternan was terminally ill.
- 6. What significant act did Dickens do regarding his wife, Catherine, during his relationship with Nelly?
A) He formally divorced her.
B) He publicly separated from her.
C) He had her committed to an asylum.
D) He moved her to a different country.
- 7. What is a major theme of Tomalin's biography?
A) The history of British railways.
B) The golden age of Victorian theatre.
C) The erasure of women from history.
D) The technical evolution of the novel.
- 8. What was the name of Nelly Ternan's mother?
A) Sarah Ternan
B) Elizabeth Ternan
C) Eleanor Ternan
D) Frances Ternan
- 9. What was the name of Nelly Ternan's husband?
A) Henry F. Chorley
B) Wilkie Collins
C) George Wharton Robinson
D) John Forster
- 10. What is the significance of the title 'The Invisible Woman'?
A) It was Dickens's nickname for Ternan.
B) It refers to Ternan's deliberate erasure from history.
C) It describes Ternan's career as a spy.
D) It is the title of a play Ternan performed in.
- 11. Which of these was a close friend and biographer of Dickens who helped conceal the affair?
A) Thomas Carlyle
B) John Forster
C) Alfred Lord Tennyson
D) Wilkie Collins
- 12. In what year was Claire Tomalin's 'The Invisible Woman' first published?
A) 1990
B) 2000
C) 1970
D) 1980
- 13. What was the name of the play Dickens was involved in when he first met the Ternan family?
A) The Frozen Deep
B) The Lady of Lyons
C) Money
D) The Corsican Brothers
- 14. What does Tomalin's biography achieve regarding Nelly Ternan?
A) It proves she was a terrible actress.
B) It shows she was the real author of his novels.
C) It reveals she blackmailed Dickens.
D) It restores her as a significant figure in Dickens's life.
- 15. What was the profession of Nelly Ternan?
A) Novelist
B) Actress
C) Governess
D) Suffragist
- 16. What was the name of the railway accident Dickens and Ternan were involved in?
A) The Clapham Junction collision
B) The Paddington train wreck
C) The Staplehurst rail crash
D) The Tay Bridge disaster
- 17. What was the name of Dickens's wife, from whom he separated?
A) Catherine
B) Estella
C) Georgina
D) Agnes
- 18. Which of Dickens's novels was being serialized at the time of the Staplehurst crash?
A) The Mystery of Edwin Drood
B) Our Mutual Friend
C) David Copperfield
D) A Tale of Two Cities
- 19. How did Dickens and Ternan likely meet?
A) At a publishing house
B) At a literary salon
C) During a theatrical production
D) Through family friends
- 20. What is Claire Tomalin's profession?
A) Historian
B) Biographer and journalist
C) Literary critic
D) Novelist
- 21. Which of Dickens's sisters-in-law remained his housekeeper after his separation?
A) Georgina Hogarth
B) Fanny Ternan
C) Helen Ternan
D) Mary Hogarth
- 22. For roughly how many years did the relationship between Dickens and Ternan last?
A) 13 years
B) 5 years
C) Until his death (8 years)
D) 20 years
- 23. How many children did Nelly Ternan have?
A) Three
B) One
C) None
D) Two
- 24. What was Nelly Ternan's full first name?
A) Emily
B) Elizabeth
C) Eleanor
D) Ellen
- 25. Which of Dickens's novels is thought to have been influenced by his relationship with Ternan?
A) Hard Times
B) A Christmas Carol
C) Great Expectations
D) Oliver Twist
- 26. In which country did Nelly Ternan live for a time with Dickens?
A) Italy
B) Germany
C) France
D) America
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