Hendrik Conscience
Hendrik Conscience was a pivotal figure in the revival of the Flemish language as a medium for literary expression, born on December 3, 1812, in Antwerp. He was the son of a French father and a Flemish mother, and his early life was marked by a move to a rural area that later inspired much of his writing. At seventeen, Conscience pursued studies in Antwerp while supporting himself through tutoring. The Belgian Revolution of 1830 saw him serve in the army, where he began writing poetry in French.
Transitioning to fiction, Conscience chose to write in Flemish, a decision initially met with familial disapproval, particularly from his father. His debut book, *In't Wonderjaar 1566*, published in 1837, received acclaim, including praise from King Leopold I of Belgium. Though his works faced a slow start in gaining popularity, by the 1850s, they garnered widespread recognition and were translated into multiple languages. Conscience's novels often depicted everyday Belgian life, contributing to the formation of a national literature. He passed away on September 10, 1883, in Brussels, receiving a state funeral that underscored his significance to Belgian culture.
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Hendrik Conscience
Flemish novelist and short-story writer
- Born: December 3, 1812
- Birthplace: Antwerp, Belgium
- Died: September 10, 1883
- Place of death: Brussels, Belgium
Biography
A leader in the revival of the Flemish vernacular as a vehicle of the literary art, Hendrik Conscience (kawns-YAHN-suh), son of a French father and a Flemish mother, was born in Antwerp on December 3, 1812. During his childhood, the family lived for a time in Antwerp and then moved to a flat, desolate stretch of land between Antwerp and Venloo, the setting for much of his later fiction. When he was seventeen, Conscience was sent to Antwerp to study; he supported himself in part by tutoring. In 1830, at the time of the Belgian revolution, he volunteered for the army and served in the ranks until 1837.
Conscience had written some poetry in French while in the army, but when he turned to writing fiction, he decided to write in Flemish, a dialect considered by all educated Belgians as too vulgar for literary use. His first book, In’t Wonderjaar 1566 (in the year of marvels, 1566), was well received in 1837; King Leopold I of Belgium gave the book his personal praise. Conscience’s father was so angry that his son should write a book in Flemish, however, that he turned the young man out of the family home. A collection of stories and tales, Phantazy (fantasy), appeared in the same year, under royal patronage. Later novels of Belgian life include The Poor Nobleman and Benjamin van Vlaanderen.
A congress meeting at Ghent in 1841 mentioned Conscience’s work as the beginnings of a true national literature, but for many years his novels about homely life, written in Flemish, did not achieve popularity. In the 1850’s, however, his popularity rose, and his novels were translated into German, French, and English. In later life, Conscience held the title of keeper of the Royal Belgian Museum. When he died in Brussels on September 10, 1883, he was given the state funeral of an important government official.
Bibliography
Bruyne, Michiel de. Hendrik Conscience en Roeselare: Relaties, bezoeken, brieven. Antwerp: Stichting Mercator-Plantijn, 1983.
Hageland, Albert van. Hendrik Conscience en ons volksleven. Aartselaar, Belgium: Vlaams Boekenfonds, 1984.
Smits, Fran. Henri Conscience et le romantisme flamand. Brussels: Office de Publicité, 1943.
Westerlinck, Albert. Wie was Hendrik Conscience? Leuven, Belgium: Acco, 1983.