Flemish Literature
Belgium has contributed a lot to both Flemish and French literature. Among the most famous writers are Philippe de Comines and Jean Froissart, who wrote in French during the Middle Ages. The writings of Charles de Coster and Emile Verhaeren, both of whom wrote in French, and of Hendrik Conscience, who was the first to write in Flemish language, were popular during the 19th century. The poet and playwright Maurice Maeterlinck, who wrote in French, won the Nobel Prize in literature in 1911.1
The very first Flemish poet was Heinrich von Veldeke, who was born in the Netherlands in the 16th century. He wrote in the Franconian dialect. His works include a translation of Virgil’s "Aeneid", several love poems, and a biography of Saint Servatius. Jacob van Maerlant wrote on a variety of topics, including natural history, the Bible, and world history.2
The first Flemish short novel, called "Jellen en Mietje", was written in 1811 by Karel Broeckaert, who also wrote dialogues based on those of the English essayist Joseph Addison. The poet Peter Joost de Borchgrave and the playwright Jan Baptist Hofman were also popular at this time.3
In 1818 the Flemish scholar Jan Frans Willems wrote essays that encouraged writers, poets, and playwrights to write in the Flemish language. His work began a movement that was supported by the government, and Willems was hired to prepare a text of the 13th-century poem "Van den vos reinaerde" (“Reynard the Fox”). 4
After 1839 the Flemish language revival spread rapidly, encouraged by poets such as Karel Lodewijk Ledeganck, Theodor van Rijswijck, and Prudens van Duyse and by prose writers such as Hendrik Conscience, all of whom wrote in Flemish.5
The most important early Flemish novelist was Hendrik Conscience, whose famous historical novel, "The Lion of Flanders" (written in 1838), significantly contributed to the revival of nationalism and pride in the Flemish language. His follower, Jan van Beers was a romantic poet, famous for his improvement and simplification of Flemish poetry.6
Many novelists after Conscience, especially Virginie Loveling, were against the rural idealism that Conscience portrayed in some of his novels.7
The most important 19th-century Flemish poet was the priest Guido Gezelle, whose simple but direct lyrical poems of religious feeling and rural life weren’t appreciated until after his death.
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