About
Charles De Coster, born in Munich in 1827 and died in Ixelles in 1879, was a Belgian writer of French expression. After studying at the Free University of Brussels, he published legends and tales inspired by Flemish folklore. His major work, The Legend of Ulenspiegel (1867), transposes the folk hero into the religious wars of the 16th century. This novel, written in an archaic language, is considered a foundational text of Belgian literature. De Coster, also a Freemason, taught at the Royal Military Academy. Largely unrecognized during his lifetime, he was rediscovered after his death.
* 1827-08-20 — † 1879-05-07
Major works
- Légendes flamandes (1857)collection of tales
- Contes brabançons (1861)collection of tales
- La Légende et les Aventures héroïques, joyeuses et glorieuses d'Ulenspiegel et de Lamme Goedzak au pays de Flandres et ailleurs (1867)novel
Key milestones
- 1855Graduated from the Free University of Brussels.
- 1858Initiated into Freemasonry in the lodge Les Vrais Amis de l'Union et du Progrès Réunis.
- 1870Appointed professor at the Royal Military Academy of Belgium.
Themes
Flemish folkloreFreedom and resistanceInquisition and oppressionBelgian national identityArchaic language and style
Sources: britannica.com · reflexions.uliege.be · britishmuseum.org