Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) Ramus, Petrus pyĕr də lä rämāˈ [key], 1515–72, French humanist and philosopher. Attempting to break through Aristotelian and scholastic traditions, Ramus wrote a number of works that became in...

(Encyclopedia) Saint-Évremond, Charles de Marguetel de Saint-Denis de shärl də märgətĕlˈ də săN-dənēˈ də săNtāvrəmôNˈ [key], 1616?–1703, French critic, writer, and soldier. He served under Condé...

(Encyclopedia) Madeleine mădˈəlĭn, Fr. mädlĕnˈ [key] [Fr.,=Magdalen, i.e., Mary Magdalen], large church of Paris, in the Place de la Madeleine. It was originally planned by J. A. Gabriel as a part of his layo...

(Encyclopedia) Romains, Jules zhül rômăNˈ [key], 1885–1972, French writer, whose original name was Louis Farigoule. A brilliant student of philosophy, he became known as the chief exponent of unanimism, a lite...

(Encyclopedia) Fuentes, Carlos kärˈlōs fwānˈtās [key], 1928–2012, Mexican writer, editor, and diplomat. He was head of the department of cultural relations in Mexico's ministry of foreign affairs (1956–59)...

(Encyclopedia) Saavedra, Ángel de, duque de Rivas: see Rivas, Ángel de Saavedra, duque de. ...

(Encyclopedia) Rais, Gilles de Laval, seigneur de: see Retz, Gilles de Laval, seigneur de. ...

(Encyclopedia) paradox, statement that appears self-contradictory but actually has a basis in truth, e.g., Oscar Wilde's “Ignorance is like a delicate fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone.” Many New Critics mai...

(Encyclopedia) Gustavus V, 1858–1950, king of Sweden (1907–50), son and successor of Oscar II. During his reign Sweden evolved toward political equality and economic prosperity and avoided military involvement i...