Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Heyse, Paul

(Encyclopedia)Heyse, Paul poul hīˈzə [key], 1830–1914, German realistic writer. Besides the 120 novellas on which his reputation rests, he wrote some 50 plays, 6 novels, and many fine translations, especially ...

Gryphius, Andreas

(Encyclopedia)Gryphius, Andreas ändrāˈäs grüˈfēo͝os [key], 1616–64, German poet-dramatist, originally named Andreas Greif. He wrote in Latin, new High German, and Silesian dialect. Among his many sonnets,...

Geibel, Emanuel von

(Encyclopedia)Geibel, Emanuel von āmäˈno͞oĕl fən gīˈbəl [key], 1815–84, German poet. Although at first a revolutionary poet, he gradually became more conservative, reflecting the growing German nationali...

Frischlin, Nikodemus

(Encyclopedia)Frischlin, Nikodemus nēkōdāˈmo͝os frĭshˈlĭn [key], 1547–90, German satirist and philologist. His dramas, written in Latin and seemingly dealing with antique or biblical subjects, were in fac...

Elizabeth, queen of Romania

(Encyclopedia)Elizabeth, 1843–1916, queen of Romania, consort of King Carol I, whom she married in 1869. Of German birth, she was the daughter of Hermann, prince of Wied. She completely identified herself with he...

Jonas, Justus

(Encyclopedia)Jonas, Justus yo͝osˈto͝os yōˈnäs [key], 1493–1555, German Protestant reformer. In 1521, Jonas, then a professor at the Univ. of Erfurt, accompanied Martin Luther to the Diet of Worms. During t...

Münster, Sebastian

(Encyclopedia)Münster, Sebastian sābäsˈtyänˌ münˈstər [key], 1489–1552, German scholar and geographer. He was a Franciscan monk but after the Reformation became a Protestant and taught at Heidelberg and ...

Stadion, Johann Philipp, Graf von

(Encyclopedia)Stadion, Johann Philipp, Graf von yōˈhän fēˈlĭp gräf fən shtäˈdēôn [key], 1763–1824, Austrian politician. A diplomat, he was made (1805) foreign minister and campaigned for a German upri...

Wolf, Markus Johannes

(Encyclopedia)Wolf, Markus Johannes vôlf [key], 1923–2006, East German spymaster. A legendary cold-war espionage chief, he was called “the man without a face” because until 1978 there was no known photograp...

Brandt, Willy

(Encyclopedia)Brandt, Willy vĭlˈē bränt [key], 1913–92, German political leader. His name originally was Karl Herbert Frahm. Active in his youth in the Social Democratic party, after Adolf Hitler came to powe...

Browse by Subject