The Houghton Mifflin dictionary of biography.

Based on the hardcover edition of Chambers biographical dictionary. 7th ed. 2002.

Includes bibliographical references.

Staff -- Preface -- Introduction / Justin Kaplan -- Note on the text -- Abbreviations -- Dictionary of Biography.

What did Aung San Suu Kyi receive the Nobel Peace Prize for? What did Laozi have to say about Confucius? Which Academy Awards were won by the actor Anthony Quinn? The answers to these and countless other questions about famous people, both past and present, can be found in the pages of the all-new Houghton Mifflin Dictionary of Biography. Its 1,600-plus pages contain more than 18,000 entries covering people from around the globe and from all periods of human history -- from Aristotle to Attila, Greta Garbo to Mikhail Gorbachev, and Frank Zappa to Ulrich Zwingli. In addition, 300 special feature boxes offer more detailed information on a variety of especially noteworthy people like the emperor Suleyman the Magnificent, the singer Ella Fitzgerald, the sculptor Henry Moore, and the poet Robert Burns. Among other details that bring these people to life, the boxes contain quotations that impart some of the spirit of these exceptional lives. Not only is The Houghton Mifflin Dictionary of Biography the most comprehensive and up-to-date single-volume dictionary of biography available today, but it is also a real pleasure to read. Its user-friendly layout allows you to locate needed information rapidly, and the clear style in which the entries are written will draw you in to discover more and more about these fascinating lives. The Houghton Mifflin Dictionary of Biography includes more than 18,000 people from around the globe and from all periods of history. All continents, fields of endeavor, and historical eras are richly represented: the likes of Plato, Aristotle, and Michelangelo rub shoulders with Sir V.S. Naipaul, Jesse Jackson, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Each entry begins with the person"s full name, birth and death dates, nationality, and occupation, allowing the reader to locate this most basic information at a glance. The person"s life, education, and achievements are detailed, as is information on the historical milieu in which he or she was active. The book also includes 300 special feature boxes, which provide detailed information about a variety of noteworthy people, such as the Ottoman emperor Suleyman the Magnificent, the singer Ella Fitzgerald, the sculptor Henry Moore, and the poet Robert Burns. Quotations often impart some of the spirit of these impressive people. Readers learn that the last words of Ludwig van Beethoven, the deaf composer, were "I shall hear in heaven," and that Bruce Springsteen said of Bob Dylan, "He had the freedom and the talent to make a pop record that contained the whole world." This is an indispensable resource for schools, libraries, and individuals who need an up-to-date and authoritative biographical reference.