Mededelingen van het Cyriel Buysse Genootschap 11

31

July 1, 1899

...

Alongside of the French literature of Belgium, which is the richest and most varied, only one other form really ranks as a living force, the Flemish; and although the towns of Antwerp and Brussels have

[p. 142]

opened sumptuous Flemish theatres, and Ghent is going to follow their example next October, the Flemish stage is more abundantly than brilliantly supplied. On the other hand, in the novel and in poetry Flemish authors succeed better. M. Karel Bogaerd, a veteran poet, has published a volume entitled ‘Wilde Rozen’ (‘Wild Roses’). In a volume also have appeared the curious plaints of a chansonnier of the streets, M.K. Waeri, of Ghent. Among several other names I may note especially M.H. de Marez for his volume ‘Mijn Herte Weet’ (‘My Heart Knows’), and Mlle. Hilda Ram for her ‘Wat zei, wat zong dat Kwezelken?’

M. Florimond van Duyse, the well-known writer on music, has published a charming collection of old religious songs with their delightful tunes, under the archaic title of ‘Dit is een Suyverlijck Boecxken’ (‘This is a Little Book of Purity’); while M. Karel Heyndrickx has written a ‘Studenten-Liederboek’ for the students of the Catholic University of Louvain.

Besides the more or less historical novels of M. Noterdaeme and others, and the books of some beginners like MM. Pieter Danco, Gustaaf Lefevre, and J. Leroy, I may mention the posthumous work of Madame Cogen, the daughter of the poet Ledeganck, who adopted the manner of Hans Andersens stories; ‘Licht en Bruin,’ two novels by M. Gustaaf Segers; ‘Lenteleven’ (‘Spring Life’), a realistic volume of talent, by M. Stijn Streuvels; and the new volume of M. Cyriel Buysse, ‘Uit Vlaanderen’ (‘From Flanders’), in which he has collected all sorts of little things from the Belgian and Dutch reviews.

The well-known folk-lore authorities, MM. A. de Cock and Pol de Mont, have edited together the fourth volume of their collection of popular Flemish tales. M. Pol Anri has devoted an interesting book, ‘Schemas en Wenschen’ (‘Schemes and Wishes’), to an explanation and criticism of the pedagogy of Herbart. MM. H. Meert and W. de Vreese have each published a book on the gallicismes of Flemish writers of the day. The master and the head of the young school of philology in Flanders, Prof. J. Vercoullie, of Ghent, has remodelled his noteworthy ‘Etymologisch Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal.’ Under the title of ‘Inleiding tot de Poëzie’ (‘Introduction to Poetry’) the poet Pol de Mont has explained the theory of his art.

History is beginning to be seriously taken up by Flemish writers. M.E. Vlietinck has written the history of Ostend and its famous

[p. 143]

siege under Albert and Isabel (1601-1604); M.J. Opdebrinck has written a declamatory but useful work on the part played by the Protestants of the sixteenth century at Poperinghe, a small town of Eastern Flanders; MM. J.F. Pallemaerts and Aug. Rees have told the history of the Boerenkrijg of 1798, the revolt of the Flemish peasants against the conscription and the rule of France; and M. de Decker has written a careful monograph on Jan Frans Vande Velde (1743-1823), a member of the Catholic clergy who played a great part in the contentions of his Church with Joseph II. and Napoleon I. The late Willem Rogghé has recounted in his ‘Gedenkbladen’ (‘Memoirs’) the curious history of the Flemish movement at Ghent. One of the best books of the year is the doctors dissertation of M. August Vermeylen on a Brabantine poet of the sixteenth century, Jonker Jan Vander Noot. It is a study, on fresh and elaborate lines, and in a decidedly pretty style, of the life and times of the now almost forgotten champion of the Renaissance in the Netherlands of Philip II., the Duke of Alva, and the Prince of Orange.

PAUL FREDERICQ
[Editor]