This chain of North American lakes covers an area larger than the United Kingdom
The Great Lakes
1993: Tom Hanks struggles with insomnia
Sleepless in Seattle
Joanne is her first name; she has no middle name but Kathleen was added for literary purposes in honor of her grandmother
J.K. Rowling
He reigned from 1066 to 1087 & one of those years should really help you
William the Conqueror
An American symbol:
BAGEL DEAL
Bald Eagle
This African cape was thought to be a sign of a sea route to India from Europe, hence its name
Cape of Good Hope
2002: Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma sings on death row
Chicago
Perhaps in an act of "Civil Disobedience", this transcendentalist reversed the order of his first & middle names
Henry David Thoreau
In 2003 it all came crashing down around him, including his statue on April 9
Saddam Hussein
"Heavenly" predator of the coral reef:
FLAG SHINE
Angelfish
The co-princes of this tiny country in the Pyrenees are the French president & the Bishop of Urgell
Andorra
2011: Voiced by Jesse Eisenberg, Blu the macaw overcomes long distance travel & birdnappers
Rio
This author who grew up in Oxford, Mississippi added the letter "U" to his last name
Faulkner
He led from 1799 to 1814, took an unwanted vacation, returned & then was gone for good in 1815
Napoleon
Understanding:
SPECIMEN HONOR
Comprehension
It was the capital of Poland for several hundred years until 1596
2013: Matthew McConaughey looks to score some life-saving meds
Dallas Buyers Club
Marguerite Johnson was a singer when she took this stage name & used it when she wrote poems like "Still I Rise"
Maya Angelou
He led from 1799 to 1814, took an unwanted vacation, returned & then was gone for good in 1815
Ho Chi Minh
A type of embroidery:
DELETE NO PIN
Needlepoint
One of Asia's most vulnerable rainforests is in the mountains of Cambodia named for this spice that also starts with the letter C
Cardamom
1940: Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart & Katharine Hepburn tell a tale of non-brotherly love
The Philadelphia Story
New Yorker Nathan Weinstein fittingly changed his name to this & eventually moved out to Hollywood
Nathanael West
Popular in 37 A.D., this man whose name means "little boot" was sent walking 4 years later
Caligula
Rock, solid:
TEA RING
Granite