Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) Branner, Hans Christian, 1903–66, Danish writer. Branner's early novels, often concerned with the irrational fears of childhood, include The Child Playing on the Shore (1937). With The Riding Master...

(Encyclopedia) Raffarin, Jean-Pierre zhäN-pyĕr räfärăNˈ [key], 1948–, French politician. From a political family, he began his career in business and served as a spokesman for a labor minister in the late 19...

(Encyclopedia) Alembert, Jean le Rond d' zhäN lərôNˈ däläNbĕrˈ [key], 1717–83, French mathematician and philosopher. The illegitimate son of the chevalier Destouches, he was named for the St. Jean le Rond ...

(Encyclopedia) grace, in Christian theology, the free favor of God toward humans, which is necessary for their salvation. A distinction is made between natural grace (e.g., the gift of life) and supernatural grace, ...

(Encyclopedia) Desmarets de Saint-Sorlin, Jean zhäN dāmärāˈ də săN-sôrlăNˈ [key], 1595–1676, French poet and dramatist. A protégé of Richelieu, he was a founding member of the French Academy. In 1670 h...

(Encyclopedia) Anville, Jean Baptiste Bourguignon d' zhäN bätēstˈ bo͞orgēnyôNˈ däNvēlˈ [key], 1697–1782, French geographer and cartographer. His maps of ancient geography, characterized by careful, accu...

(Encyclopedia) Köhler, Georges Jean Franz kōˈlər, Ger. köˈlər [key], 1946–95, German immunologist, Ph.D. Univ. of Freiburg, 1974. He worked (1974–76) with César Milstein at the Laboratory of Molecular Bi...

(Encyclopedia) Aristide, Jean-Bertrand zhänˈ bĕrträndˈ äˌrēstēdˈ [key], 1953–, president of Haiti (1991, 1994–96, 2001–4). A radical Catholic priest who defended liberation theology, he worked among ...

(Encyclopedia) Dessalines, Jean Jacques zhäN zhäk dĕsälēnˈ [key], c.1758–1806, emperor of Haiti (1804–6), born a slave. A shrewd general, he served under Toussaint Louverture in the wars that liberated Hai...

(Encyclopedia) Évora ĕˈvôrə [key], town, capital of Évora dist. and of Altro Alentejo, S central Portu...