Famous Opening Lines

I have chosen some famous or striking opening lines and am asking you to identify the books they are taken from. My intention is not to be irredeemable obscure (except for at least one question)

I could compare opening lines to the opening bars of musical masterpieces. Sometimes you know you're in the hands of a genius and your interest is whetted.

Created by: John

Are you ready for...
Our "When Will I Die" Quiz?

  1. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us
  2. All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.
  3. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
  4. It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen
  5. It's a funny thing about mothers and fathers. Even when their own child is the most disgusting little blister you could ever imagine, they still think that he or she is wonderful
  6. Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of number four Privet Drive were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much
  7. When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow.
  8. Rage "” Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus' son Achilles, murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses, hurling down to the House of Death so many sturdy souls, great fighters' souls, but made their bodies carrion, feasts for the dogs and birds, and the will of Zeus was moving toward its end.
  9. Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life; Whole misadventured piteous overthrows Do with their death bury their parents' strife.
  10. Dr. Iannis had enjoyed a satisfactory day in which none of his patients had died or got any worse.

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