The Congo in Flemish Literature

Q: What is "The Congo in Flemish Literature" about?

First-ever anthology of Flemish Congo prose This book presents the first anthology of Flemish prose on the Congo, the former colony of Belgium, in English translation. Because of the Dutch language barrier, Flemish literature on the Congo has traditionally remained inaccessible to and thus neglected by international scholarship, as opposed to French or English prose on this part of the African continent. That this particular perspective has thus far remained underexposed, or even disregarded, is all the more regrettable in light of the fact that the vast majority of Belgians who went to work in the African colony came from Flanders. The Congo in Flemish Literature now represents a key step towards filling this lacuna by providing an overview of the different societal attitudes towards the colonial undertaking prevailing in Belgium during and after the colonial era, the way the relationship between Belgium and the Congo changed over time, subject to the zeitgeist and sociopolitical and economic developments, and the individual authors' varying points of view with regard to the colonisation. Flemish Congo prose offers a fascinating glimpse into Belgium’s colonial past and legacy, primarily during the colonial era, but also at the time of its violent aftermath following Congolese independence on 30 June 1960, and well into the following decades.

Q: Who edited "The Congo in Flemish Literature"?

"The Congo in Flemish Literature" was edited by Luc Renders and Jeroen Dewulf. Luc Renders is professor emeritus of Hasselt University. Jeroen Dewulf is Queen Beatrix professor in Dutch Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.

Q: Who translated "The Congo in Flemish Literature"?

"The Congo in Flemish Literature" was translated by Grady Tarplee and L. Dulac.

Q: What is the Table of Contents for "The Congo in Flemish Literature"?

PART 1 THE CONGO IN FLEMISH LITERATURE 1. Flemish Literature 2. The Colonial Era 3. The Postcolonial Period 4. Conclusion PART 2 SELECTED EXTRACTS OF FLEMISH PROSE Aldemar-Camille van der Cruyssen A Peaceful Crusade Cyriel Buysse White Depravity Pieter Danco A Mini-Europe in the Tropics Pieter de Mey A Giant Step for Civilization Constant De Deken A Missionary with a Cause Henri van Booven No Place for Europeans Henri Bossaerts White Injustice Leo Bittremieux Light in the Darkness Ernest Tilemans True Interracial Love René Poortmans Under the Leaden Sun Jean Gustave Schoup A Tragic Fate Adolf Verreet Paternalistic Benevolence Bert Nacht No Place like Home Alfons Walschap Inner Conflict Gerard Walschap A Humane Approach to Colonization Jac. Bergeyck From a Congolese Perspective Piet van Aken Cynical Power Struggles Jan van den Weghe A Plea for Cooperation Robrecht De Sadeleer The Disillusionment of the Colonial Daisy Ver Boven Friendship between Black and White Jef Geeraerts Paradise Lost Paul Brondeel The Agony of a Nobody Lieve Joris In Search of the Real Congo Marcus Leroy Political Games List of References

An Anthology of Flemish Prose on the Congo, 1870s - 1990s

Luc Renders (Editor), Jeroen Dewulf (Editor), Grady Tarplee (Translator), L. Dulac (Translator),

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Category: African Studies, Literature, Postcolonial Studies

Language: English

ISBN: 9789462702172

Publication date: June 18, 2020

€29.50 (including 6% VAT)

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Number of pages: 192

Size: 234 x 156 x 11 mm

Stock item: 135566

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For Belgium: 5 to 8 working days

For EU: 2 to 3 weeks

For other countries: 4 to 5 weeks

Category: African Studies, Literature, Postcolonial Studies

Language: English

DOI: 10.11116/9789461663368

ISBN: 9789461663368

Publication date: June 18, 2020

€22.00 (including 6% VAT)

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Number of pages: 192

Summary
Contents
About the Editors
Reviews
FAQs

First-ever anthology of Flemish Congo prose

This book presents the first anthology of Flemish prose on the Congo, the former colony of Belgium, in English translation. Because of the Dutch language barrier, Flemish literature on the Congo has traditionally remained inaccessible to and thus neglected by international scholarship, as opposed to French or English prose on this part of the African continent. That this particular perspective has thus far remained underexposed, or even disregarded, is all the more regrettable in light of the fact that the vast majority of Belgians who went to work in the African colony came from Flanders. The Congo in Flemish Literature now represents a key step towards filling this lacuna by providing an overview of the different societal attitudes towards the colonial undertaking prevailing in Belgium during and after the colonial era, the way the relationship between Belgium and the Congo changed over time, subject to the zeitgeist and sociopolitical and economic developments, and the individual authors’ varying points of view with regard to the colonisation. Flemish Congo prose offers a fascinating glimpse into Belgium’s colonial past and legacy, primarily during the colonial era, but also at the time of its violent aftermath following Congolese independence on 30 June 1960, and well into the following decades.

PART 1
THE CONGO IN FLEMISH LITERATURE 1. Flemish Literature 2. The Colonial Era 3. The Postcolonial Period 4. Conclusion
PART 2SELECTED EXTRACTS OF FLEMISH PROSE Aldemar-Camille van der Cruyssen A Peaceful Crusade
Cyriel Buysse White Depravity
Pieter Danco A Mini-Europe in the Tropics
Pieter de Mey A Giant Step for Civilization
Constant De Deken A Missionary with a Cause
Henri van Booven No Place for Europeans
Henri Bossaerts White Injustice
Leo Bittremieux Light in the Darkness
Ernest Tilemans True Interracial Love
René Poortmans Under the Leaden Sun
Jean Gustave Schoup A Tragic Fate
Adolf Verreet Paternalistic Benevolence
Bert Nacht No Place like Home
Alfons Walschap Inner Conflict
Gerard Walschap A Humane Approach to Colonization
Jac. Bergeyck From a Congolese Perspective
Piet van Aken Cynical Power Struggles
Jan van den Weghe A Plea for Cooperation
Robrecht De Sadeleer The Disillusionment of the Colonial
Daisy Ver Boven Friendship between Black and White
Jef Geeraerts Paradise Lost
Paul Brondeel The Agony of a Nobody
Lieve Joris In Search of the Real Congo
Marcus Leroy Political Games
List of References

Luc Renders

Luc Renders is professor emeritus of Hasselt University.

Jeroen Dewulf

Jeroen Dewulf is Queen Beatrix professor in Dutch Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.

That this anthology raises as many questions as it answers is a
compliment. Renders and Dewulf have not merely provided Dutch-language texts
on the Congo in one place in English, they also have assembled an anthology that
unveils much about the nature of Belgium’s colonial experience and how it
reverberated in the metropole, all while raising questions as to what this literature
means.Matthew G. Stanard, Can.
J. of Netherlandic Studies/Rev. can. d’études néerlandaises 41.1 (2021): 67-71

Cependant, Luc Renders et Jeroen Dewulf évitent soigneusement de conférer à cette littérature une cohérence trop factice. Prenant appui sur vingt-quatre extraits et autant d’auteurs qu’ils présentent à chaque fois succinctement, ils témoignent de la diversité des regards portés par ces derniers sur le Congo tout au long du XXe siècle. Loin de donner à voir un aspect uniforme de ces textes, ils nous invitent à les saisir dans leur spéci-ficité, préférant, ce faisant, nous donner accès à des publications jusque-là jamais traduites en anglais, voire en français. Car, et il s’agit là du principal apport de cette anthologie, la vingtaine de traductions qu’ils ren-dent enfin disponibles comptent parmi elles des textes oubliés, sinon inac-cessibles pour des locuteurs non néerlandophones. Dès lors, cette antho-logie est une contribution précieuse aux recherches sur les littératures africaines et elle laisse espérer de plus amples développements critiques sur ce sujet.
Pierre BOIZETTE, Études Littéraires Africaines, n°51 (2021)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is "The Congo in Flemish Literature" about?

First-ever anthology of Flemish Congo prose

This book presents the first anthology of Flemish prose on the Congo, the former colony of Belgium, in English translation. Because of the Dutch language barrier, Flemish literature on the Congo has traditionally remained inaccessible to and thus neglected by international scholarship, as opposed to French or English prose on this part of the African continent. That this particular perspective has thus far remained underexposed, or even disregarded, is all the more regrettable in light of the fact that the vast majority of Belgians who went to work in the African colony came from Flanders. The Congo in Flemish Literature now represents a key step towards filling this lacuna by providing an overview of the different societal attitudes towards the colonial undertaking prevailing in Belgium during and after the colonial era, the way the relationship between Belgium and the Congo changed over time, subject to the zeitgeist and sociopolitical and economic developments, and the individual authors' varying points of view with regard to the colonisation. Flemish Congo prose offers a fascinating glimpse into Belgium’s colonial past and legacy, primarily during the colonial era, but also at the time of its violent aftermath following Congolese independence on 30 June 1960, and well into the following decades.

Who edited "The Congo in Flemish Literature"?

"The Congo in Flemish Literature" was edited by Luc Renders and Jeroen Dewulf.

Luc Renders is professor emeritus of Hasselt University.

Jeroen Dewulf is Queen Beatrix professor in Dutch Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.

Who translated "The Congo in Flemish Literature"?

"The Congo in Flemish Literature" was translated by Grady Tarplee and L. Dulac.

What is the Table of Contents for "The Congo in Flemish Literature"?

What is the DOI for "The Congo in Flemish Literature"?

The Digital Object Identifier (DOI) for "The Congo in Flemish Literature" is 10.11116/9789461663368.

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