Familiar Faces

A fervent Swiss patriot and an uncompromising defender of his native Geneva. Curiously, however, it is the French who insist on printing postcards with his face on them. A man of great passions, laid bare in his autobiographical writings, he seemed always to inhabit...

Peter Abelard was one of the most influential thinkers of the twelfth century, renowned both for his intellectual brilliance and for his turbulent personal life. He distinguished himself in the fields of logic and theology, challenging established authorities and...

Max von Sydow was one of the most distinguished actors of European cinema and is most closely associated with his collaborations with director Ingmar Bergman. Born in Sweden, he became renowned for his commanding screen presence and remarkable versatility, portraying...

Raul Brandão was one of the most important Portuguese writers of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. His work is distinguished by an introspective, poetic and deeply human voice. Blending social reality with an almost existential vision of life, he...

Captain Nemo is one of the most enigmatic figures in adventure literature and science fiction, best known as the mysterious commander of the submarine Nautilus in the works of Jules Verne, particularly Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas. Nemo is portrayed as a...

James T. Kirk is one of the most iconic characters in science fiction, best known as the charismatic captain of the USS Enterprise in Star Trek. Originally portrayed by William Shatner, Kirk is distinguished by his confident leadership, adventurous spirit, and ability...

Corto Maltese is an adventurer and sailor from the world of European comics, renowned for his free spirit, melancholic gaze, and strong moral compass, which repeatedly draws him into historical and exotic conflicts during the early twentieth century. His stories blend...

Jules Verne Jules Verne, one of the pioneers of science fiction literature, was born in France in 1828 and revolutionised the genre with his visionary narratives. Passionate about science and discovery, Verne anticipated technological advances long before they became...

A thirst for vengeance does little for one’s digestion, and it shows on Captain Ahab’s face. To a past marked by pain, he has added a profound contempt for humanity and technology alike. The tragic and obsessive figure from Moby-Dick is one of the most iconic...