Mededelingen van het Cyriel Buysse Genootschap 11

28

July 4, 1896

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In marked contrast to the ferment and discord prevalent in the French literary camps is the complete calm that characterizes Flemish literature. It is true that even amongst Flemish writers ‘les Jeunes’ have raised their Standard of revolt; but their literary organ Van Nu en Straks (Today and To-morrow) is distinguished by nothing out of the ordinary except its frontispiece and culs-de-lampe.

No really remarkable work has appeared during the past twelve months either in the department of poetry or the drama. A number of volumes of verse have appeared, however, such as those of MM. Gustaaf de Mey, Vict. van de Weghe, O. Knops, R. de Cneudt, and others. Of the many plays published the only one deserving special notice is M. Isidoor Albert's ‘Boudewijn Hapken,’ an historical drama based upon the medieval history of Flanders, which has been ‘crowned’ by the government.

In prose works, on the other hand, Flemish literature, has produced a erop that is not only prolifie, but rich and valuable as well. Besides the young authors (such as MM. Herman Bogaerd, F. Stockmans, Eug. Leën, and Leo van Nerum) who are winning their spurs, and such tried writers as MM. Gustaaf Segers and Omer Wattez, who are fulfilling their earlier promise, we have the veteran Sleeckx, the Nestor of Flemish literature, publishing despite his seventy-eight years, an important historical romance of the sixteenth century, ‘Vesalius in Spanje.’

Mlle. Virginie Loveling and her nephew, M. Cyriel Buysse, still occupy the position of the two leading Flemish prose writers. The

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latter, who has larely made the experiment of short stories in French, has published two new books, ‘Wroeging’ (‘Remorse’) and ‘Mea Culpa,’ both founded upon much the same idea, that of a Lovelace idealized by repentance. Despite the false tendency of its morality, ‘Mea Culpa’ is a very able work, which enjoyed the distinction of appearing originally in the leading Dutch magazine, De Gids. Mlle. Virginie Loveling has reached the apogee of her powers and her fame. This year the prize of 5,000 fr., officially offered every five years for the encouragement of Flemish literature, has been bestowed upon her for her admirable novel ‘Een Dure Eed’ (‘A Terrible Oath’), a work already hailed in these columns (July, 1892) as a masterpiece, and now in its second edition. More recently she has published a volume under the title of ‘Het Land der Verbeelding’ (‘The Country of Imagination’), consisting of two stories, in which her unfailing freshness of manner, keen power of psychological analysis, and picturesque power of description are directed upon life as lived in our typical Flemish villages. Several of her works have been translated into French and German, and one has just appeared at Prague in Bohemian.

Mention must be made of the publication of the third (and last) volume of the hitherto uncollected works of Jan van Rijswijck (d. 1869). He was a polemical writer of great originality - indeed, the only important journalist that Flemish literature has seen since its renaissance in 1830.

Outside of the domain of pure literature, a number of meritorious works in Flemish have appeared during the last twelve months. The study of folk-lore is responsible for the collections of popular tales or traditions compiled by Mlles. M.E. Belpaire and Hilda Ram, by M.J. van Landschoot, M. Pol de Mont, M.A. de Cock, and M. Aug. Gittée. M.L. Simons has published an excellent translation of ‘Beowulf.’ M.J. Vercoullie, of the University of Ghent, who is the head of the newer school of philology, has edited the ‘mystic’ writings of that mysterious fourteenth century figure Zuster Hadewijch. His pupil and colleague, M.W. de Vreese, has unearthed an interesting sixteenth century drama, ‘Van Charon den Helschen Scippere’ (‘Charon, the Hellish Boatman’). MM. K. de Flou and E. Gailliard have issued two erudite reports upon their researches amongst the Flemish MSS. preserved in various libraries in London. M. Maurits Basse has written a remarkable essay,

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‘Stijlaffectatie bij Shakespeare,’ dealing with euphuism and other affectations in the style of Shakspeare.

M. Victor de Hoon, a Brussels magistrate, has written an important exposition of the principles of Belgian criminal law under the title of ‘Grondbeginselen van het Belgische Strafrecht.’ M.O. Pijffersen, of Ghent, in his book ‘Het gebruik der talen in burgerlijke zaken,’ investigates the use of Flemish and French in the Belgian law courts. The social theories of Bebel and Richter are compared in ‘Maatschappelijke Vraagstukken’ (‘Social Questions’), an interesting handbook from the pen of M. Pieter Geiregat, a veteran Flemish writer. Madame Lievevrouw Coopman's work ‘Het Volkskind,’ dealing with the education and training of children of the humbler classes, has been ‘crowned’ by the Academy.

The historical works published by MM. Frans de Potter, J. Broeckaert, E. Gaillard, E. Geudens, E. Poffé, Scheire, and others, are of widely differing value. Two such works, however, stand out prominently as being of the first rank. M.F. van Duyse has published a masterly essay (‘crowned’ by the Academy), ‘Het eenstemmig Fransch en Nederlandsch wereldlijk lied in de Belgische gewesten,’ in which he traces, from the musical standpoint, the history of the secular song in Belgium. The book is a revelation. M. Max Rooses, the well-known custodian of the Musée Plantin, has issued two volumes of art criticism under the title of ‘Oude en nieuwe Kunst.’ In these he deals with the principal masterpieces of seventeenth century Flemish and Dutch painting to be found in the Louvre and the Antwerp and Vienna Galleries. He also includes excellent criticism of a number of Flemish painters of this century, such as Leys, Lies, Verlat, bringing his survey up to the present day. Coming from the pen of one who is not only our leading literary and artistic critic, but also one of the most finished and charming of our prose writers, the book is as remarkable for its manner as for its matter.

PAUL FREDERICQ
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