Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Pasternak, Boris Leonidovich

(Encyclopedia)Pasternak, Boris Leonidovich păsˈtərnăkˌ, Rus. bərēsˈ lyāˌənyēˈdəvĭch pəstyĭrnäkˈ [key], 1890–1960, Russian poet and translator. Pasternak became an international symbol of the in...

Prokofiev, Sergei Sergeyevich

(Encyclopedia)Prokofiev, Sergei Sergeyevich syĭrgāˈ syĭrgāˈəvĭch prōkôfˈēĕf [key], 1891–1953, Russian composer, pianist, and conductor. Prokofiev achieved wide popularity with his lively music, in wh...

Michael II, Byzantine emperor

(Encyclopedia)Michael II (Michael the Stammerer), d. 829, Byzantine emperor (820–29). A native of Phrygia, he fought with Emperor Leo V, whom he had helped gain the throne. Leo had him arrested for heading a cons...

Dukhobors

(Encyclopedia)Dukhobors or Doukhobors both: do͞oˈkəbôrz [key] [Russ.,=spirit wrestlers], religious group, prominent in Russia from the 18th to the 19th cent. The name was coined by the Orthodox opponents of the...

Hilary of Arles, Saint

(Encyclopedia)Hilary of Arles, Saint hĭlˈərē, ärl [key], d. 449, Gallo-Roman churchman. Forsaking riches, he entered the monastery at Lérins. He was made archbishop of Arles (c.429) against his wishes. As hea...

Lion, The

(Encyclopedia)Lion, The, English name for Leo, a constellation. ...

Borodino

(Encyclopedia)Borodino bərədyĭnôˈ [key], village, central European Russia, c.70 mi (110 km) W of Moscow. It was the site, on Sept. 7, 1812, of a battle between Napoleon's Grande Armée and Gen. Mikhail Kutuzov...

Constantine V, Byzantine emperor

(Encyclopedia)Constantine V (Constantine Copronymus), 718–75, Byzantine emperor (741–75), son and successor of Leo III. An able general and administrator, he fought successfully against the Arabs, Slavs, and Bu...

Artzybashev, Mikhail Petrovich

(Encyclopedia)Artzybashev, Mikhail Petrovich mēkhəyēlˈ pētrôˈvĭch ärtsĭbäˈshĕf [key], 1878–1927, Russian novelist, playwright, and essayist. Artzybashev's early works were short stories in the manner...

Seghers, Anna

(Encyclopedia)Seghers, Anna äˈnä sēgərs [key], 1900–1983, German novelist, whose original name was Netty Reiling Rádvanyi. She won fame with her first novel of social protest, The Revolt of the Fishermen, (...