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Wolfe, Tom

(Encyclopedia) Wolfe, Tom (Thomas Kennerly Wolfe, Jr.), 1931–2018, American journalist and novelist, b. Richmond, Va., B.A. Washington and Lee Univ., 1951, Ph.D. Yale, 1957. He began his writing…

De Palma, Brian

(Encyclopedia) De Palma, Brian, 1940–, American film director, b. Newark, N.J. Heavily influenced by Alfred Hitchcock, he is especially known for bloody, shocking, and suspenseful thrillers.…

Guy of Warwick

(Encyclopedia) Guy of WarwickGuy of Warwickwŏrˈĭk [key], English legendary hero, popularized by an anonymous 14th-century rhymed romance. Guy won the earl of Warwick's daughter and saved England from…

Brewer's: Bonfire

Ignis ossium. The Athenæum shows that the word means a fire made of bones; one quotation runs thus, “In the worship of St. John, the people ... made three manner of fires: one was of clean…

Christina Rossetti: Vanity of Vanities

Vanity of VanitiesSonnetAh, woe is me for pleasure that is vain, Ah, woe is me for glory that is past: Pleasure that bringeth sorrow at the last, Glory that at the last bringeth no gain!…

revue

(Encyclopedia) revue, a stage presentation that originated in the early 19th cent. as a light, satirical commentary on current events. It was rapidly developed, particularly in England and the United…

Fedin, Konstantin Aleksandrovich

(Encyclopedia) Fedin, Konstantin AleksandrovichFedin, Konstantin Aleksandrovichkənstəntyēnˈ əlyĭksänˈdrəvĭch fyĕdyēnˈ [key], 1892–1977, Russian novelist. Fedin was interned in Germany during World…

Pavese, Cesare

(Encyclopedia) Pavese, CesarePavese, Cesarechāˈzärā pävĕˈsā [key], 1908–50, Italian novelist, poet, and translator. A major literary figure in postwar Italy, Pavese brought American influence to…

Brewer's: Vanity Fair

A fair established by Beelzebub, Apollyon, and Legion, for the sale of all sorts of vanities. It was held in the town of Vanity, and lasted all the year round. Here were sold houses, lands…

The Devil's Dictionary: Vanity

by Ambrose Bierce VALORVIRTUESVANITY -n. The tribute of a fool to the worth of the nearest ass. They say that hens do cackle loudest when There's nothing vital in the eggs they've…