Articles

Een pasgeboren staat, of een recentelijk ontwaakte natie? De historische roman als vormgever van het collectieve Belgische geheugen

Author
  • Nele Bemong

Abstract

Between 1830 and 1850, practically out of nowhere there came into being a truly 'Belgian' literature, written boch in Flemish and in French, but aimed at a single goal: the creation of a Belgian past and the conscruction of a Belgian national identity. The historical novel played a crucial role in this conscruction and representation of a collective memory for the Belgian state just out of the cradle. The prefaces to these historical novels are characterized both by the central role granted to the representacion of Flanders as the cradle of nineteenth-century Belgium, and by the organically and religiously inspired imagery. Attempts were made to create an intimate genealogical relationship with the forefathers, in order to make the Belgian citizens feel closer to their rich heritage. Through the activation of specific recollections from the immense archive of the collective cultural memory, Belgian independence found its legitimization both towards the international community and towards the Belgian people.

How to Cite:

Bemong, N., (2005) “Een pasgeboren staat, of een recentelijk ontwaakte natie? De historische roman als vormgever van het collectieve Belgische geheugen”, Handelingen - Koninklijke Zuid-Nederlandse maatschappij voor taal- en letterkunde en geschiedenis 59, 5-22. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/kzm.v59i0.17382

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Published on
05 Jan 2005
Peer Reviewed