DE LEEUW VAN VLAANDEREN

Cover of The Lion of Flanders 1838

This is the villain of the piece.

At the age of twelve, Albert got his hands on a book called ‘De Leeuw van Vlaanderen’, (The Lion of Flanders), published in 1838 by Hendrick Conscience. The boy who gave him the book was two or three years older than him. They met at nightfall behind the barn. This big old worn book came out from inside his jacket and Albert put it inside his own coat. He thanked the boy and ran home with his treasure. But he didn’t go into the house. His mother, who was very much influenced by her education, would not have slept a wink if she thought that this big novel was under the rafters. The same was true of the boy’s father, he would give his son a good beating if he saw him with the book.

Some eighty years previously, some authority or other had announced that the book contained unchristian thoughts. The basis for this announcement was this statement contained in the book:

‘To drink the blood of the French, that is all I want!’

That didn’t bother Albert and he took the chance with his soul. He also took his chance with the Brothers who at the time were trying to turn him into a little Frenchman. He took the two chances, thank God, and read the book.

It would be no exaggeration to say that this book drew people to side with their own language and that it played a big part in the history of Flanders ever since, as well as influencing many of the choices Albert himself made. The book was instrumental in drawing out the rebel in him. The Lion of Flanders had ignited the flame of passion in twelve-year-old him and his friends, as the book passed from under one coat to another in the shadow of darkness.

Albert began to connect with his Flemish history and he wouldn’t communicate with his sisters if they spoke French, causing them tremendous frustration.

At this time the game in the village was similar to ‘Cowboys & Indians’ or ‘Cops & Robbers’. Albert and his friends played the ‘Battle of the Golden Spurs’ where it was ‘Flemings versus Walloons’. There was one small problem, however. The more of them who had read The Lion of Flanders, the harder it was to find warriors who were prepared to take on the part of the French or Walloons. He remembers that one day they had an enormous Flemish army but no one to stand against them so they had to assuage their lust for vengeance on some haystacks in a nearby field.

Flemish nationalism was getting a grip on the pupils in his school too. On the last day of the academic year, the best student in the highest class always received a gold medal. The year Albert was there as a twelve-year-old, the deserving student removed the medal from around his neck. He announced out loud to the whole hall that he would not accept it as the inscription was in French. Albert cheered and applauded heartily, along with many of the students.

Get the book.

The book is available to readers in Europe here, and to those outside Europe, and particularly in the USA here