Alphabet associations - I

[Nick Armstrong]

Back home and fhg no - not Guzman. Or G-string.

The G you're looking for is a first name in two of the cases, a surname in the other.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

fhg: I find it comforting that your research led you up exactly the same blind alley as I ended up in. I had no more luck with a picaresque character called Girés (or was it Gimés?). Is The Minister a poitician or a churchman, do you think?

I wondered this, too, Norf: I first investigated The Warden, but no Gs there!

[Anna]

Well my research also led me up many blind alleys, and I was pursuing Garcia! To no avail! I think I may give up for a while, also, I read The Minister as the Minster, so I was roaming around York ... <doh emoticon>

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Some nice Tea Shops in these blind alleys!

[Nick Armstrong]

You are all correct to be after a book; and the other two answers are musical but neither classical.

A couple of obscure operas have been written based on the book, I gather.

[Anna]

Musical Minister - Ministry of Sound - Vato Gonzalez?
Edit: I take it Gonzalez is not a speedy answer, not even La vida y hechos de Estebanillo González, hombre de buen humor?

[Nick Armstrong]

Musical Minister - Ministry of Sound - Vato Gonzalez?
Edit: I take it Gonzalez is not a speedy answer, not even La vida y hechos de Estebanillo González, hombre de buen humor?

No... sadly not!!

Further clue required?

[antongould]

mercia might appreciate one in the morning,,,,,,,,

[Nick Armstrong]

mercia might appreciate one in the morning,,,,,,,,

*Splutter*

Indeed, anton. Who wouldn't?

Well...

The picaresque book about a Spaniard was written by a Frenchman in four parts - the first two in 1715, the fourth not until 1735.

The second and third elements are respectively Brazilian and American.

Good night all

[mercia]

Good night all

good morning. I took one look at the G question and realised I wouldn't get far without some clues and Calabrese has given a massive clue now leading to Mr Blas (not Ruy) but I think this question belongs to all the hard workers from yesterday.

[antongould]

what a scolar and a gentleman........

[mercia]

scolar

have you been reading "Down with skool" Anton?

[Nick Armstrong]

Big (and accurate) hint and wink from mercia... Well he's got the picaresque element without pronouncing the G word.

Is someone going to scoop this one up then?

[mercia]

anything the matter?

[Nick Armstrong]

That joke didn't work so I deleted it!