Merriam-Webster's Biographical Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Biographical Dictionary
Author: Merriam-Webster, Inc
Publisher: Merriam-Webster Incorporated
Total Pages: 1192
Release: 1995
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN:

A biographical dictionary which profiles over 30,000 individuals, including birth and death dates, major accomplishments, and historical influence.

The Dictionary of National Celebrity

The Dictionary of National Celebrity
Author: Hermione Eyre
Publisher: Cassell
Total Pages: 264
Release: 2005
Genre: Performing Arts
ISBN: 9780304368051

As Miles Kington recently complained in his Independent column, newspapers are increasingly full of unfamiliar names: ¿Ant and Dec, Carol Smillie, Jordan, Simon Cowell, Nasty Nick, the Coughing Major, Davina McCall. ¿Who are these horrible people?¿ asked Mr Kington. ¿There should be a Dictionary of National Celebrity to keep us informed.¿ Indeed. For those who have no idea as to the true identity of, say, Maureen from Driving School, Charlotte the Harlot or Foxy Coxy, help is at hand! The Dictionary of National Celebrity consists of some 300 A to Z entries, running the gamut of today's celebrity culture from Jade Goody to Simon Cowell, from Lord Brocket to Emma Bunton, from Vanessa Feltz to Michael Flatley, from Christine Hamilton to Lady Victoria Hervey, from James Hewitt to Paris Hilton, and from Ricardo the Queer Barber to Richard and Judy. The volume will also include entries for a small number of seminal historical figures ¿ Icarus, Boudicca, Lady Godiva ¿ who may fairly be said to have blazed a trail for today¿s celebrities. In addition to these biographical articles, there will also be short articles on some key words and phrases in the celebrity lexicon, some key issues for the today¿s Celebrities (¿celebrity handholding¿, ¿cracking the American market¿), and on some fascinating Celebrity phenomena (including ¿Celebrity air rage¿). Furthermore, special feature entries detailing Celebrity faux pas, will be accompanied by Celebrity ¿top ten¿ charts displaying the ups and downs in popularity of various household names.

Celebrity

Celebrity
Author: Chris Rojek
Publisher: Reaktion Books
Total Pages: 216
Release: 2004-11-01
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1861895577

In contemporary society, the cult of celebrity is inescapable. Anyone can be turned into a celebrity, and anything can be made into a celebrity event. Celebrity has become a part of everyday life, a common reference point. But how have people like Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Bill Clinton or Princess Diana impressed themselves so powerfully on the public mind? Do they have unique qualities, or have their images been constructed by the media? And what of the dark side of celebrity – why is the hunger to be in the public eye so great that people are prepared to go to any lengths to achieve it, as numerous mass murderers and serial killers have done. Chris Rojek brings together celebrated figures from the arts, sports, politics and other public spheres, from O.J. Simpson and Marilyn Monroe to Hitler and David Bowie, and touches on many movements and fads, including punk, rock-and-roll and fashion. Rojek analyzes the difference between ascribed celebrity, which derives from bloodline, and achieved celebrity, which follows on from personal achievement - the difference between Princess Margaret and, say, Woody Allen. He also shows how there is no parallel in history to today's ubiquitous "living" form of celebrity, powered by newspapers, PR departments, magazines and electronic mass media.

People on People

People on People
Author: Susan Ratcliffe
Publisher:
Total Pages: 504
Release: 2001
Genre: Foreign Language Study
ISBN:

From Martin Amis on Jimmy Connors and Jane Austen on Henry VIII, to Liz Hurley on Marilyn Monroe and Madonna on Eva Peron, here are more than 4,000 quotations about both historical and contemporary figures from all over the world. The speakers are as well known as the people they are talking about, and come from a broad range of disciplines and professions, including actors, architects, dancers, historians, mathematicians, literary figures, politicians, academics, sports personalities, and scientists. We read Margot Fonteyn's praise of Fred Astaire: "His technique is astounding, yet everything is accomplished with the air of someone sauntering through the park on a spring morning." Albert Einstein on Madame Curie: "Very intelligent but as cold as a herring." El Greco on Michaelangelo: "He was a good man, but did not know how to paint." And Barbara Streisand in defense of Bill Clinton: "We elected a President, not a Pope." All the quotations about an individual are brought together in an entry headed by a brief description, making it possible to compare what different people have said about one particular person. A detailed author index gives a context line from each quotation, biographical information on authors, and an overview of their comments, often revealing their personalities. A colorful source of information on famous personalities past and present, People on People is an entertaining read, perfect for browsing.

Celebrity

Celebrity
Author: James Monaco
Publisher: New York : Dell Publishers
Total Pages: 284
Release: 1978
Genre: Fame
ISBN:

Distinguished Asian Americans

Distinguished Asian Americans
Author: Chung H. Chuong
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Total Pages: 449
Release: 1999-12-30
Genre: History
ISBN: 0313000409

Asian Americans have made significant contributions to American society. This reference work celebrates the contributions of 166 distinguished Asian Americans. Most people profiled are not featured in any other biographical collection of noted Asian Americans. The Chinese Americans, Japanese Americans, Filipino Americans, Korean Americans, South Asian Americans (from India and Pakistan), and Southeast Asian Americans (from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam) profiled in this work represent more than 75 fields of endeavor. From historical figures to figure skater Michelle Kwan, this work features both prominent and less familiar individuals who have made significant contributions in their fields. A number of the contemporary subjects have given exclusive interviews for this work. All biographies have been written by experts in their ethnic fields. Those profiled range widely from distinguished scientists and Nobel Prize winners to sports stars, from actors to activists, from politicians to business leaders, from artists to literary luminaries. All are role models for young men and women, and many have overcome difficult odds to succeed. These colorfully written, substantive biographies detail their subjects' goals, struggles, and commitments to success and to their ethnic communities. More than 40 portraits accompany the biographies and each biography concludes with a list of suggested reading for further research. Appendices organizing the biographies by ethnic group and profession make searching easy. This is the most current biographical dictionary on Asian Americans and is ideal for student research.

Random House Famous Name Finder

Random House Famous Name Finder
Author: Coral Amende
Publisher: Random House Reference
Total Pages: 968
Release: 1999
Genre: Biography
ISBN:

Need to know which baseball player was nicknamed "The Old Professor"? Stumped over Nicholas Cage's real name? Curious which of William Faulkner's books won the Pulitzer Prize? Can't remember Jimmy Durante's theme song? Whether you are a puzzler, trivia buff, or just an information hound, the Random House Famous Name Finder can help you quickly and easily look up information on over 10,000 people from arts, sports, literature, history and other fields.

Celebrities in Hell

Celebrities in Hell
Author: Warren Allen Smith
Publisher: chelCpress
Total Pages: 130
Release: 2002
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 1569802149

Nonbelievers are often portrayed as demons. Warren Allen Smith wants people to know that they are not. In fact, they are important and constructive members of society who positively influence life and culture in many ways. Celebrities In Hell provides short biographical sketches of prominent people who have belief systems that dare to be different including Woody Allen, Marlon Brando, George Carlin, George Clooney, Marlene Dietrich, Jodie Foster, Katharine Hepburn, Christopher Reeve, Howard Stern and Uma Thurman.