"The Two Writers" (lateral thinking puzzle)

**soxfan**[$] · #1 12-03-2004, 12:36 PM

We haven't had a lateral thinking puzzle in a while, so here's a new one (from Paul Sloane's "Lateral Thinking Puzzlers"):

George and Evelyn never met but they carried on writing until late in life. It has been said that Evelyn loved George, but she was in any event too old for him. George married in 1880. He converted to Catholicism in 1930. During World War II, he served with the Royal Marines and the Royal Horse Guards. Partly in recognition of this, Evelyn's subsequent writings analyzed the character of World War II and the struggle between good and evil.

Evelyn died in 1966 near Taunton in Somerset. She had achieved notoriety for her unconventional views and lifestyle. Her first full-length novel had been published in 1859. She is buried in Highgate Cemetery. He died at the age of 62 having published his autobiography in 1964. He lived one year longer than she did. How could this be so?

My PM box is now open.

**lynnzop**[$] · #2 12-03-2004, 12:46 PM

I'm not sure I understand the question. How could George have lived one year longer than Evelyn? Is that it?

I'll admit that I tried to timeline this one and got all fuddled up. It's a tongue twister!!!

**soxfan**[$] · #3 12-03-2004, 12:50 PM

I'm not sure I understand the question. How could George have lived one year longer than Evelyn? Is that it? Yes.

I'll admit that I tried to timeline this one and got all fuddled up. It's a tongue twister!!! Yep.

**lynnzop**[$] · #4 12-03-2004, 01:24 PM

Was George a real person or was he a literary character?

**soxfan**[$] · #5 12-03-2004, 01:25 PM

Was George a real person or was he a literary character? A real person.

**theworm**[$] · #6 12-03-2004, 01:30 PM

Did George die before Evelyn?

**soxfan**[$] · #7 12-03-2004, 01:33 PM

Did George die before Evelyn? Yes.

**theworm**[$] · #8 12-03-2004, 01:39 PM

Maybe George was a pig and just like young girls so Evelyn was too old for him even though she was younger than him.

**soxfan**[$] · #9 12-03-2004, 01:39 PM

Maybe George was a pig and just like young girls so Evelyn was too old for him even though she was younger than him. Er, no.

**lynnzop**[$] · #10 12-03-2004, 01:42 PM

George got married. Pigs can't get married.

Okay, reading through this again (for the 23rd time), Evelyn was one old broad. Her first novel was published in 1859 and she died in 1966???

Sounds like time travel to me!

Was Evelyn a human being?

**soxfan**[$] · #11 12-03-2004, 01:46 PM

Okay, reading through this again (for the 23rd time), Evelyn was one old broad. Her first novel was published in 1859 and she died in 1966???

Sounds like time travel to me! Nope, it's not.

Was Evelyn a human being? Yes.

**theworm**[$] · #12 12-03-2004, 01:48 PM

Was she a real human? Was she a character in one of George's novels?

**soxfan**[$] · #13 12-03-2004, 01:49 PM

Was she a real human? Yes.

Was she a character in one of George's novels? No.

**lynnzop**[$] · #14 12-03-2004, 01:52 PM

Was Evelyn a woman?

**lynnzop**[$] · #15 12-03-2004, 01:53 PM

Add to that: Was George a man?

**soxfan**[$] · #16 12-03-2004, 01:54 PM

Was Evelyn a woman? No.

Add to that: Was George a man? No.

**lynnzop**[$] · #17 12-03-2004, 01:55 PM

Okay....so Evelyn was a man and George was a woman.

That explains a lot.

**lynnzop**[$] · #18 12-03-2004, 01:56 PM

Was George, George Sanders?

Lynn
who has no idea what that has to do with anything but that's the only female literary George she can think of and maybe it will clue in someone else

**soxfan**[$] · #19 12-03-2004, 01:56 PM

Okay....so Evelyn was a man and George was a woman.

That explains a lot.

Yep. Bonus points if you identify the authors.

**theworm**[$] · #20 12-03-2004, 01:57 PM

Wasn't my question about book characters a good one???

**soxfan**[$] · #21 12-03-2004, 01:58 PM

Was George, George Sanders? No.

Wasn't my question about book characters a good one???

Yes.

**lynnzop**[$] · #22 12-03-2004, 02:00 PM

I'm hopelessly confused.