La fille du régiment (The Daughter of the Regiment) La fille du regiment A concise encyclopedia entry on Donizetti's comic opéra comique La fille du régiment: its creators, plot, musical highlights (notably the tenor aria with high Cs), performance hist…
La Source (The Spring) — 1866 ballet by Saint-Léon, Minkus and Delibes La Source La Source is a three-act romantic ballet first staged in Paris in 1866, choreographed by Arthur Saint-Léon with music by Ludwig Minkus and Léo Delibes; known for its charming orche…
La Sylphide: the 1832 Romantic ballet La Sylphide La Sylphide is a landmark Romantic-era ballet created by Filippo Taglioni for his daughter Marie Taglioni, premiered in Paris in 1832; it established ethereal technique and dramati…
La Vestale — Spontini's French opera in three acts La Vestale La Vestale is a three-act French opera by Gaspare Spontini with a libretto by Étienne de Jouy, premiered in Paris in 1807; it portrays duty, religion and love in ancient Rome and s…
La Vita Nuova — Dante Alighieri's Prosimetric Tribute to Beatrice La Vita Nuova La Vita Nuova (The New Life) is Dante's short prosimetrum blending prose and poetry around his idealized love for Beatrice, an early work that shaped his spiritual vision and later…
La voix du bon Dieu — Céline Dion's debut album La voix du bon Dieu La voix du bon Dieu is Céline Dion's first studio album, released in Quebec in 1981 when she was a young teenager. It introduced her to francophone audiences and began her professi…
La Wally — opera by Alfredo Catalani La Wally La Wally is a four-act Italian opera by Alfredo Catalani with a libretto by Luigi Illica, premiered in Milan in 1896. Noted for its alpine setting, lyrical orchestration and the ar…
Lady Chatterley's Lover A balanced overview of D. H. Lawrence’s novel Lady Chatterley’s Lover, its themes and controversies, and notable screen and stage adaptations including the 1981 film.
Lady Gaga discography Comprehensive overview of Lady Gaga's recorded output: studio albums, soundtracks, collaborations, singles, and the evolution and impact of her music career.
Lady Ice (1973 film) Lady Ice Lady Ice is a 1973 crime thriller directed by Tom Gries, starring Donald Sutherland, Jennifer O'Neill and Robert Duvall. It mixes heist elements, romantic tension and 1970s noir se…
Lady Susan — Jane Austen's early epistolary novella Lady Susan A concise introduction to Lady Susan, an early epistolary work by Jane Austen: form, characters, themes, composition, publication history and later adaptations.
Constructed Languages of J. R. R. Tolkien Languages constructed by J. R. R. Tolkien An overview of the major invented languages J. R. R. Tolkien created for his legendarium, their features, history, scripts, and influence on literature and conlanging.
Lara Lor-Van (Lara-El) — mother of Superman Lara Lor-Van Lara Lor-Van (Lara-El) is a Kryptonian character in DC Comics: the biological mother of Kal-El and wife of Jor-El. Her role and depiction have varied across comics, film, and anima…
Lassie Come-Home (novel and adaptations) Lassie Come-Home Eric Knight's story of a loyal collie first appeared in 1938 and became a 1940 novel, a 1943 MGM film, and a long-running TV series—an enduring symbol of canine loyalty and homecom…
Last of the Conquerors (1948 novel by William Gardner Smith) Last Of The Conquerors A novel by William Gardner Smith about African-American GIs in occupied Germany after World War II, exploring race, identity, and interracial relationships amid U.S. military segre…
Latch (Disclosure song featuring Sam Smith) Latch (song) Latch is a 2012 single by English electronic duo Disclosure featuring Sam Smith. A garage/house-influenced pop song, it launched Smith's profile and appeared on Disclosure's debut…
Late Registration (2005 album by Kanye West) Late Registration Late Registration is Kanye West's second studio album, released August 30, 2005; noted for orchestral production, hit singles, commercial success and widespread critical acclaim.
Latino Moderne (constructed international auxiliary language) Latino moderne Latino Moderne, created by David Th. Stark in the 1980s and published online in 1996, is a revision of Interlingua grammar that restores personal verb endings and agreement to allo…
Laugh Now, Cry Later (Ice Cube album) Laugh Now, Cry Later Laugh Now, Cry Later is Ice Cube's seventh studio album, released June 9, 2006 on his Lench Mob Records. It was his first studio album in six years and debuted at No. 4 on the Bill…
Laundry Service (Shakira album) Laundry Service Laundry Service is Shakira's fifth studio album and her first primarily English-language release (2001). It blends pop, rock and Latin influences and produced global hits including…
Laura (1944 film) Laura (movie) Laura is a 1944 American film noir directed by Otto Preminger, known for its central murder investigation, a memorable musical theme, and standout performances by Gene Tierney and…
Lavinia (novel) A clear overview of Ursula K. Le Guin's Lavinia: its premise, relation to Virgil's Aeneid, themes, composition, reception and notable features of the novel.
Laws of Attraction (2004 film) Laws of Attraction A 2004 romantic comedy-drama about two high-profile divorce lawyers in New York whose professional rivalry becomes a personal relationship; mixed reviews but modest box-office succ…
Le Dieu Bleu (The Blue God) Le Dieu Bleu Le Dieu Bleu is a one-act Ballets Russes production (1912) with music by Reynaldo Hahn, choreography by Michel Fokine and designs by Léon Bakst; it was a commercial and critical fa…
Le Monde’s 100 Books of the Century Le Monde's 100 Books of the Century A summary of the 1999 Le Monde and Fnac survey that produced a popular list of the 20th-century’s most memorable books, its method, contents, reception and lasting significance.
Le Spectre de la rose Concise encyclopedic article on the one‑act Ballets Russes work Le Spectre de la rose: its scenario, music, choreography, premiere, design, and influence on early 20th‑century danc…
Leaf Storm (La hojarasca) — Gabriel García Márquez's 1955 novella Leaf Storm Leaf Storm is a 1955 novella by Nobel Prize–winning Gabriel García Márquez that introduced Macondo. It uses layered narration to probe memory, isolation, community conflict, and th…
League of Legends League of Legends is a free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena video game by Riot Games, known for its champion-based gameplay, strategic team objectives, and large global esp…
Leaked in London (EP) — Fall Out Boy live release Leaked in London Leaked in London is a 2007 live EP by Fall Out Boy issued as a downloadable bonus to buyers of Infinity on High after that album was leaked online. It was distributed via CDPass an…
Lean on Me (song) — Bill Withers' 1972 anthem of friendship Lean on Me (song) A concise encyclopedia entry on Bill Withers' 1972 song 'Lean on Me': origins, musical qualities, chart history, notable covers, cultural impact and distinguishing facts.
Leaves of Grass A revised and expanded overview of Walt Whitman’s landmark poetry collection, its composition, major themes, publication history, and lasting influence on American literature.
Leaving (EP) — Skrillex Leaving (EP) Leaving is a 2013 two-track EP by Skrillex (Sonny Moore), issued through his OWSLA label via the subscription service The Nest; it showcases subdued, melodic production created in…
Led Zeppelin III Led Zeppelin III, released in October 1970, is the band's third album, notable for its blend of acoustic folk and country textures with hard rock moments; much material was written…
Lee Chaolan (Tekken character) Lee Chaolan Lee Chaolan is a recurring character in the Tekken fighting-game series, introduced in the original Tekken. He is Heihachi Mishima's adopted son, a stylish rival figure with a long…
Lee Tamahori: New Zealand Filmmaker and International Director Lee Tamahori Profile of Lee Tamahori, a New Zealand film director known for Once Were Warriors and his move to Hollywood with films including Along Came a Spider and Die Another Day.
Left 4 Dead 2 Left 4 Dead 2 is a 2009 cooperative first-person shooter by Valve, the sequel to Left 4 Dead, noted for its teamwork gameplay, new infected and melee weapons, and its controversial…
Left Behind (series) A bestselling Christian apocalyptic fiction series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins that dramatizes the rapture and end-times through a premillennial dispensationalist lens.
Lego minifigure Small, articulated plastic figures included with many Lego sets and sold separately; iconic, collectible, and highly customizable parts used across themes and licensed lines.
Lei Wulong (Tekken character) Lei Wulong Lei Wulong is a recurring character in the Tekken fighting-game series: a Hong Kong detective and Five-Form Kung Fu expert known for stance-based, fluid combat and comic personalit…
Lemonade (Beyoncé album) Lemonade is Beyoncé's sixth studio album (2016), presented as a concept-driven visual album and film. It blends multiple musical styles and addresses infidelity, Black womanhood, r…
Les chansons en or — Céline Dion (greatest hits) Les chansons en or Overview of Les chansons en or, a French-language greatest-hits compilation gathering early recordings that document Céline Dion’s development as a francophone pop artist before he…
Les chemins de ma maison (Céline Dion album) Les chemins de ma maison Les chemins de ma maison is Céline Dion's third French-language studio album, released in 1983. It reflects her early Quebec-era pop and chanson style and involved collaborators su…
Les Demoiselles d'Avignon Pablo Picasso’s radical 1907 painting presenting five women in a brothel with fractured forms and mask-like faces; a pivotal work at the origin of Cubism and modern art.
Les Noces (The Wedding) — Stravinsky’s ballet-cantata Les noces Les Noces is a 1923 stage work by Igor Stravinsky with choreography by Bronislava Nijinska: a percussive, folk-rooted ballet for voices, pianos and percussion that bridged music an…
Les oiseaux du bonheur (Céline Dion compilation) Les oiseaux du bonheur Les oiseaux du bonheur is a French-language greatest hits compilation by Canadian singer Céline Dion, assembling selections from her early recordings and reflecting the pop and cha…
Les plus grands succès de Céline Dion — French-language greatest hits compilations Les plus grands succès de Céline Dion Overview of French-language greatest-hits compilations titled Les plus grands succès de Céline Dion: typical contents, release history, versions, audience and their role in Céline…
Les Troyens: Berlioz’s epic French opera in five acts Les Troyens Les Troyens is an ambitious five-act French opera by Hector Berlioz, based on Virgil's Aeneid. Composed 1856–1858, famous for its scale, dramatic range, and difficult early perform…
Leslie Thompkins: Batman’s Physician and Moral Confidante Leslie Thompkins Leslie Thompkins is a fictional DC Comics physician closely tied to Bruce Wayne and Batman. A healer, mentor, and conscience in Gotham, she appears across comics and animation and…
