People

Harvey Pekar has made a career out of being an ordinary man. As a comic book writer, he documented the most mundane details of his life. When a Hollywood movie told his story, he continued to work as a file clerk. Even now, when some of the world’s most famous artists have illustrated his tales, he still eschews the spotlight.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, one of the strongest crusaders for peace in the last century, has fought for equality since he was a young man. After helping to end apartheid in South Africa, he brought his vision to the world. As the first black leader of the Anglican Church in Africa, he was able to broadcast his message of peace and equal freedom for all.

Fannie Lou Hamer, uttered the powerful words: “All my life I've been sick and tired. Now I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired." A Mississippi sharecropper, voting rights activist and congressional candidate, she was beaten and nearly killed in her efforts to register African-Americans at the polls.

Norwegian archeologist and anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl made harrowing transoceanic expeditions in reconstructions of ancient vessels to gain evidence for his controversial theories on human migration, gaining popular attention if not wide scientific acceptance.

Václav Havel was a revolutionary, a poet, a playwright and a president. Although he was reluctant to become a public figure, he has been one of the most influential people in Czech history.

This week findingEducation sat down with Patrick Sweeney, a fifth-grade teacher at Boones Ferry Primary School in the West Linn-Wilsonville School District of Oregon. Sweeney teaches all subjects in his mixed-level, self-contained classroom. How does he keep 27 students with different ability levels engaged and excited about learning while covering the necessary curriculum?

One of the biggest stars of the silent film era, actor and director Buster Keaton revolutionized the art of physical comedy. From a childhood spent on the vaudeville stage to besting a struggle with alcoholism, Keaton always found a way to come out on top.

British veterinarian and best-selling author James Herriot earned his fame with the publication of his 1972 book, “All Creatures Great and Small.”

With a far-reaching legacy of peace and equality, Mahatma Gandhi was one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. In honor of the spiritual leader’s birthday, we explore his life, philosophy and the lasting effects of his work.

Julie Andrews became famous as the star of Broadway’s “My Fair Lady” and “Camelot” and Hollywood’s “Mary Poppins,” “The Sound of Music” and “Victor/Victoria.” Also known as a children’s book author and tireless promoter of good works, her iconic, unforgettable characters and music are a legacy to several generations.

Writer Truman Capote emerged from the small town of Monroeville, Ala., to become one of the most visible writers of the 1950s and ’60s. His book “In Cold Blood” inspired a new form of reporting that came to be called New Journalism, while his short stories and novels, like “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” often reflected the cultural landscape of New York City society.

Enrico Fermi’s pioneering work in the field of nuclear fission won him a Nobel Prize, and ushered in the nuclear age. His discoveries led to the creation of the atomic bomb that ended World War II.

Michelangelo Merisi, popularly known as Caravaggio, spearheaded the Baroque movement, and his paintings are acclaimed for their realism and their depiction of the violent, darker side of humanity. The 16th-century painter once said, “All works, no matter what or by whom painted, are nothing but bagatelles and childish trifles ... unless they are made and painted from life.”

As a philosopher, theologian, poet, playwright and essayist working in the early 20th century, T.S. Eliot saw and described the American and European landscape of both World War I and World War II. The writer of such unforgettable poems as “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” “The Waste Land” and “The Four Quartets,” Eliot was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1948.

William Faulkner, revered modernist writer, historian and sociologist, is known for capturing the raw beauty of the rural South in all its dark complexity. While his sprawling verse and habit of knotting together past, present and future has overwhelmed some critics, others have responded to the demands of his writing.

Barbara Walters, the first woman news anchor on television, quashed the belief that women had no place in the news industry. Through “Barbara Walters Specials” she has reached out to politicians, media darlings, rock stars and murderers, asking tough questions in sensitive ways and bringing unique insights to the character of the world’s most loved and most hated personalities.

F. Scott Fitzgerald was one of 20th century America’s greatest authors. His short stories and novels explored the wealth, hopes and moral indifference of the new-rich men and women of the 1920s, a time he dubbed the “Jazz Age.” His novel, “The Great Gatsby,” is an American masterpiece.

Nicknamed “The Genius” for his ability to weave musical genres together and excel in all areas of performance, Ray Charles was a distinctly American legend. Although he grappled with blindness, drug addiction and physical ailments, Charles never lost his desire to perform and innovate, which won him a devoted fan base and critical acclaim throughout his career.

An idyllic farm surrounded by vineyards and olive groves in the Tuscan countryside was the setting for Andrea Bocelli’s childhood. But this soft-spoken singer, beloved by fans of both opera and pop music, has also faced challenges, tackling critics of his career moves, skeptics of his talent and his blindness with gusto.

Sultan Abdulhamid II, who ruled the Ottoman Empire for more than 30 years, earned a reputation both as an oppressive leader and a champion of Turkish industry, education and culture.

Best known for exposing horrific practices in the meatpacking industry with his novel, “The Jungle,” Upton Sinclair was more than just a muckraker. From organizing a utopian commune to running for office, the sworn socialist was relentless in his quest for reform.

By age 16, Twiggy was an international sensation, appearing on catwalks and magazine covers worldwide. She redefined the fashion world with her stick-thin body, popularizing the waif look over the more voluptuous pinups. When she retired from modeling at 20, Twiggy pursued a career in film and theater. She has recently been seen as the face of Marks & Spencer and plans to write a fashion book for women over 40.

Not only did Samuel Johnson’s work define the literature of the 18th century, his dictionary defined the language. Sometimes called “the great convulsionary” for his twitches and tics, Johnson pulled himself up from a poor, sickly son of a bookseller to become one of the most famous writers of the 1700s.

Celebrated writer William Carlos Williams is noted for his influence on the development of the short story form in 20th century American literature. His distinctive prose is marked by an exploration of human nature, deepened by his lifelong commitment to his “day job” as a physician.

Lauren Bacall got her start at age 19 as a sultry screen siren alongside future husband Humphrey Bogart, 25 years her senior. She went on to win Tony, Golden Globe and Lifetime Achievement Awards for her work in theater and film, as well as the National Book Award for one of her autobiographies.

Lauded after his death as one of cinema’s greatest directors, Jean Renoir earned comparatively few words of praise during his lifetime. From a childhood in Montmartre, sitting as a model for his famous Impressionist-painter father, to a Best Director Oscar nomination for his 1945 film “The Southerner,” Renoir’s creativity carried him through a colorful life.

After seeing what she felt were too many women dying a result of unintended pregnancy, Margaret Sanger decided it was time for a revolution. She brought birth control—and controversy—to the masses, operating under the belief that every child should be a wanted child. In the 1920s, she sparked a heated national conversation about reproductive choice that continues to this day.

Remembered for his bestselling children’s novels, including “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” author Roald Dahl’s life was nearly as dark and complex as that of a character in one of his books. An intensely unhappy childhood, adventures as a fighter pilot and intelligence agent in World War II, and a life marked by personal tragedy all provided rich fodder for a lifetime of stories.

H.L. Mencken, the “Sage of Baltimore,” was an outspoken journalist whose caustic tongue and scathing criticism of many segments of American society inspired anger and devotion among readers.

At the end of his life, D.H. Lawrence wrote, “For man, as for flower and beast and bird, the supreme triumph is to be most vividly, most perfectly alive.” His work always strove to reconcile the needs of the body with an intellectual existence; however, in his life, his sickly body often held back the progress of his gifted mind.