Charles De Coster
Encyclopedia
Charles-Theodore-Henri De Coster (20 August 1827 – 7 May 1879) was a Belgian
novelist whose efforts laid the basis for a native Belgian literature
.
He was born at Munich
; his father, Augustin De Coster, was a native of Liège, who was attached to the household of the nuncio at Munich
, but soon returned to Belgium. Charles was placed in a Brussels bank, but in 1850 he entered the Universite Libre de Bruxelles
, where he completed his studies in 1855. He was one of the founders of the Société des Joyeux, a small literary club, more than one member of which was to achieve literary distinction.
De Coster made his debut as a poet in the Revue trimestrielle, founded in 1854, and his first efforts in prose were contributed to a periodical entitled Uylenspiegel (founded 1856). A correspondence covering the years 1850-1858, his Lettres a Elisa, were edited by Ch. Potvin in 1894.
He was a keen student of Rabelais and Montaigne, and familiarized himself with 16th-century French. He said that Flemish
manners and speech could not be rendered faithfully in modern French, and accordingly wrote his best works in the old tongue. The success of his Légendes flamandes (1857) was increased by the illustrations of Félicien Rops
and other friends. In 1861 he published his Contes brabançons, in modern French.
His masterpiece was The Legend of Thyl Ulenspiegel and Lamme Goedzak
(1867), a 16th-century romance, which was barely read in Belgium because it didn't meet up to the conventional standard of Belgian nationalism, but became popular over the rest of the world. In the preparation for this prose epic of the Gueux
he spent some ten years. Uylenspiegel (Eulenspiegel
) has been compared to Don Quixote, and even to Panurge
. He is the type of the 16th-century Fleming, and the history of his resurrection from the grave itself was accepted as an allegory of the destiny of the race. The exploits of himself and his friend form the thread of a semihistorical narrative, full of racy humour, in spite of the barbarities that find a place in it. This book also was illustrated by Rops and others.
In 1870 De Coster became professor of general history and of French literature at the military school. His works however were not financially profitable; in spite of his government employment he was always in difficulties; and he died in much discouragement in May 1879 at Ixelles, Brussels and was interred there in the Ixelles Cemetery
.
The expensive form in which Uylenspiegel was produced made it open only to a limited class of readers, and when a new and cheap edition in modern French appeared in 1893 it was received practically as a new book in France and Belgium. He was a freemason, and a member of the lodge Les Vrais Amis de l'Union et du Progrès Réunis of the Grand Orient of Belgium
, where he was initiated on 7 January 1858.
The Legend of Thyl Ulenspiegel and Lamme Goedzak
was illustrated by Nicolas Eekman
in 1946.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
novelist whose efforts laid the basis for a native Belgian literature
Belgian literature
Because Belgium is a multilingual country,French, Dutch and German are legally the three official languages in Belgium see: EU-Belgium Belgian literature is divided into two main linguistic branches following the two most prominently spoken languages in the country - Dutch and French...
.
He was born at Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
; his father, Augustin De Coster, was a native of Liège, who was attached to the household of the nuncio at Munich
Apostolic Nuncio to Bavaria
The Apostolic Nunciature to Bavaria was an ecclesiastical office of the Roman Catholic Church in Bavaria. It was a diplomatic post of the Holy See, whose representative was called the Apostolic Nuncio to Bavaria, a state – consecutively during the nunciature's existence – of the Holy Roman Empire,...
, but soon returned to Belgium. Charles was placed in a Brussels bank, but in 1850 he entered the Universite Libre de Bruxelles
Université Libre de Bruxelles
The Université libre de Bruxelles is a French-speaking university in Brussels, Belgium. It has 21,000 students, 29% of whom come from abroad, and an equally cosmopolitan staff.-Name:...
, where he completed his studies in 1855. He was one of the founders of the Société des Joyeux, a small literary club, more than one member of which was to achieve literary distinction.
De Coster made his debut as a poet in the Revue trimestrielle, founded in 1854, and his first efforts in prose were contributed to a periodical entitled Uylenspiegel (founded 1856). A correspondence covering the years 1850-1858, his Lettres a Elisa, were edited by Ch. Potvin in 1894.
He was a keen student of Rabelais and Montaigne, and familiarized himself with 16th-century French. He said that Flemish
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
manners and speech could not be rendered faithfully in modern French, and accordingly wrote his best works in the old tongue. The success of his Légendes flamandes (1857) was increased by the illustrations of Félicien Rops
Félicien Rops
Félicien Rops was a Belgian artist, and printmaker in etching and aquatint.-Early life:Rops was born in Namur as the only son to Nicholas Rops and Sophie Maubile. He was educated at the University of Brussels...
and other friends. In 1861 he published his Contes brabançons, in modern French.
His masterpiece was The Legend of Thyl Ulenspiegel and Lamme Goedzak
The Legend of Thyl Ulenspiegel and Lamme Goedzak
The Legend of Thyl Ulenspiegel and Lamme Goedzak is a 1867 novel by Charles De Coster. Based on the 14th century Low German figure Till Eulenspiegel, Coster's novel recounts the allegorical adventures as those of a Flemish prankster Thyl Ulenspiegel during the Reformation wars in the...
(1867), a 16th-century romance, which was barely read in Belgium because it didn't meet up to the conventional standard of Belgian nationalism, but became popular over the rest of the world. In the preparation for this prose epic of the Gueux
Geuzen
Geuzen was a name assumed by the confederacy of Calvinist Dutch nobles and other malcontents, who from 1566 opposed Spanish rule in the Netherlands. The most successful group of them operated at sea, and so were called Watergeuzen...
he spent some ten years. Uylenspiegel (Eulenspiegel
Eulenspiegel
Eulenspiegel could stand for:* Till Eulenspiegel - a fictional prankster in German folklore* Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche - a tone poem by Richard Strauss*The Eulenspiegel Society - a BDSM support group in New York City...
) has been compared to Don Quixote, and even to Panurge
Panurge
Panurge is one of the principal characters in the Pantagruel of Rabelais, an exceedingly crafty knave, a libertine, and a coward....
. He is the type of the 16th-century Fleming, and the history of his resurrection from the grave itself was accepted as an allegory of the destiny of the race. The exploits of himself and his friend form the thread of a semihistorical narrative, full of racy humour, in spite of the barbarities that find a place in it. This book also was illustrated by Rops and others.
In 1870 De Coster became professor of general history and of French literature at the military school. His works however were not financially profitable; in spite of his government employment he was always in difficulties; and he died in much discouragement in May 1879 at Ixelles, Brussels and was interred there in the Ixelles Cemetery
Ixelles Cemetery
The Ixelles Cemetery , located in Ixelles in the southern part of Brussels, is one of the major cemeteries in Belgium....
.
The expensive form in which Uylenspiegel was produced made it open only to a limited class of readers, and when a new and cheap edition in modern French appeared in 1893 it was received practically as a new book in France and Belgium. He was a freemason, and a member of the lodge Les Vrais Amis de l'Union et du Progrès Réunis of the Grand Orient of Belgium
Grand Orient of Belgium
The Grand Orient of Belgium The Grand Orient of Belgium The Grand Orient of Belgium (French: Grand Orient de Belgique, Dutch: Grootoosten van Belgie (G.O.B.) is a Belgian cupola of masonic lodges which is only accessible for men, and works in the basic three symbolic degrees of freemasonry.-History:...
, where he was initiated on 7 January 1858.
The Legend of Thyl Ulenspiegel and Lamme Goedzak
The Legend of Thyl Ulenspiegel and Lamme Goedzak
The Legend of Thyl Ulenspiegel and Lamme Goedzak is a 1867 novel by Charles De Coster. Based on the 14th century Low German figure Till Eulenspiegel, Coster's novel recounts the allegorical adventures as those of a Flemish prankster Thyl Ulenspiegel during the Reformation wars in the...
was illustrated by Nicolas Eekman
Nicolas Eekman
Nicolas Mathieu Eekman , born Nikolaas Mathijs Eekman, is a Belgian figurative painter of Flemish descent, also known in France, in Belgium and in the Netherlands as Nico Eekman, Nic Eekman and under the pseudonym Ekma.He is also recognised for his drawings, watercolours and engravings.He...
in 1946.
External links
- Charles De Coster (Dutch)