Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

380 results found

Odebrecht corruption scandal

(Encyclopedia)Odebrecht corruption scandal, series of graft scandals involving the Odebrecht (now Novonor), a Brazilian construction and petrochemicals conglomerate, as well as Petrobras, the Brazilian multinationa...

Burle Marx, Roberto

(Encyclopedia)Burle Marx, Roberto, 1909–1994, Brazilian landscape architect. As an art student he visited (1928) Berlin's botanical gardens and became interested in tropical plants. Upon returning to Brazil (1930...

Machado de Assis, Joaquim Maria

(Encyclopedia)Machado de Assis, Joaquim Maria zhwäkēmˈ mərēˈə məshäˈdo͝o dĭ əsēzˈ [key], 1839–1908, Brazilian novelist, b. Rio de Janeiro. The grandson of African slaves, he was educated by a pries...

Portinari, Cândido

(Encyclopedia)Portinari, Cândido känˈdēᵺō pôrtēnäˈrē [key], 1903–62, Brazilian painter. He studied at the National School of Fine Arts in Rio de Janeiro. In 1928 a European fellowship enabled him to v...

Sabin, Joseph

(Encyclopedia)Sabin, Joseph săbˈĭn [key], 1821–81, American bibliophile, b. England. Sabin came to the United States in 1848 and established himself as a dealer in rare books in New York City and Philadelphia....

Romário

(Encyclopedia)Romário (Romário de Souza Faria), 1966–, Brazilian soccer player. A striker, he had a long stride and outstanding control and mobility despite his small stature (5 ft 6 in./1.68 m). He played with...

Collor de Mello, Fernando

(Encyclopedia)Collor de Mello, Fernando fərnäNdo͞o kôlôrˈ də mĕlˈo͞o [key], 1949–, president of Brazil (1990–92). In 1990, he became the youngest president of Brazil following the first public electio...

Ribeiro, João Ubaldo

(Encyclopedia)Ribeiro, João Ubaldo, 1941–, Brazilian journalist and novelist. His novel Sergeant Getúlio (1971, tr. 1978) narrates the efforts of a mercenary to deliver a prisoner in remote NE Brazil; it is not...

Pedro I

(Encyclopedia)Pedro I (Dom Pedro de Alcântara) pāˈdrō [key], 1798–1834, first emperor of Brazil (1822–31); son of John VI of Portugal. Dom Pedro was a child when the Portuguese royal family, fleeing from Na...

Ramos, Graciliano

(Encyclopedia)Ramos, Graciliano rämˈŏs [key], 1892–1953, Brazilian novelist. His work is marked by psychological analysis and focuses on social problems in rural districts of NE Brazil. See his novel São Ber...