(Encyclopedia) Philidor, François-André Danican, 1726–95, French chess player and composer, b. Dreux. The last in a line of well-known 17th- and 18th-century musicians, he was a celebrated composer,…
(Encyclopedia) Braille, LouisBraille, Louisbrāl, Fr. lwē brīˈyə [key], 1809?–1852, French inventor of the Braille system of printing and writing for the blind. Having become blind from an accident at…
(Encyclopedia) Vidal de la Blache, PaulVidal de la Blache, Paulpōl vēdälˈ də lä bläsh [key], French geographer, 1845–1918, the father of French human geography. He was educated at the École Normale…
(Encyclopedia) Wieland, Christoph MartinWieland, Christoph Martinkrĭsˈtôf märˈtĭn vēˈlänt [key], 1733–1813, German poet and novelist. His style, typical of the German rococo, is elegant, satiric, and…
(Encyclopedia) Soupault, PhilippeSoupault, Philippefēlēpˈ s&oomacr;pōˈ [key], 1897–1990, French poet, novelist, critic, and political activist. He took an active role in the dadaist movement and…
(Encyclopedia) Touré, Ahmed SékouTouré, Ahmed Sékousāˈk&oomacr; t&oomacr;rāˈ [key], 1922–84, Guinean political leader, president (1958–84) of the republic of Guinea. From a poor family, Touré…
(Encyclopedia) Zuckmayer, CarlZuckmayer, Carlkärl ts&oobreve;kˈmīər [key], 1896–1977, German dramatist. Zuckmayer devoted himself to writing after the success of his comedy Der fröhliche Weinberg…
(Encyclopedia) Saint-Évremond, Charles de Marguetel de Saint-Denis deSaint-Évremond, Charles de Marguetel de Saint-Denis deshärl də märgətĕlˈ də săN-dənēˈ də săNtāvrəmôNˈ [key], 1616?–1703, French…
(Encyclopedia) Charron, PierreCharron, Pierrepyĕr shärôNˈ [key], 1541–1603, French Roman Catholic theologian and philosopher. He was an important contributor to 17th-century theological thought,…