Jozef Simons
Encyclopedia
Jozef Simons was a Flemish
writer
and poet
. Jozef Simons was active in the socio-cultural life of the Campine
, among other things as a President of the Association of Campine writers (1937-1948). Together with Felix Timmermans
, Ernest Claes
and the poet Jozef De Voght he was one the writers of the Belgian
Campine during the interbellum.
Jozef Simons was born in the Kerkstraat 18 in Oelegem as a son of Louis Simons and Maria Pauline Verheyen. After graduating in commercial sciences at the Institut Supérieur de Commerce Saint-Ignace
in Antwerp, Simons became from 1909 up to 1923 house teacher of Count
Brouchoven de Bergeyck in Beveren-Waas
. During World War I
, from 1916 and until 1919 he served as a soldier, first as a gunner, afterwards as interpreter for the British army
. On 8 May 1920 he married Maria Engels, and lived in Schilde
. When Count Jozef de Brouchoven de Bergeyck died in 1922, he lost his position as a house teacher. From 1 December 1923 up to 1932 he worked as an editor for the Belgian Farmer Association (Boerenbond) and moved to Leuven
. He graduated in 1927 with a Master's degree in archaeology and art history at the Catholic University of Leuven
. From 1932 onwards until his death in 1948, he worked as an editor at the N.V J. van Mierlo-Proost in Turnhout. During the interbellum, between World War I
and World War II
, Simons built a reputation as an author of travel tales, tales concerning the Campine
(Harslucht, E: Resin air, 1933), short stories (De laatste fles, E: The last bottle, 1930) and novel
s (Dientje Goris, 1935), and as a translator from English, Spanish, and German. He also wrote many song texts, for composers such as Lodewijk De Vocht, Flor Peeters
and Armand Preud'homme.
The most important work of Jozef Simons was Eer Vlaanderen vergaat (E: Before Flanders perishes (1927), a romantic history of the Frontbeweging (E:front movement). The first edition appeared under the pseudonym Ivo Draulans.
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...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. Jozef Simons was active in the socio-cultural life of the Campine
Campine
The Campine is a natural region situated chiefly in north-eastern Belgium and parts of the south-western Netherlands which once consisted mainly of extensive moors, tracts of sandy heath, and wetlands...
, among other things as a President of the Association of Campine writers (1937-1948). Together with Felix Timmermans
Felix Timmermans
Leopold Maximiliaan Felix Timmermans is a much translated author of Flanders.Timmermans was born in the Belgian city of Lier, as the thirteenth of fourteen children in the family. He died in Lier, aged 60. He was an autodidact, and wrote plays, historical novels, religious works, and poems. His...
, Ernest Claes
Ernest Claes
Andreas Ernestus Josephus Claes was a Flemish author.Some of his works are written under the pseudonym G...
and the poet Jozef De Voght he was one the writers of the Belgian
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...
Campine during the interbellum.
Jozef Simons was born in the Kerkstraat 18 in Oelegem as a son of Louis Simons and Maria Pauline Verheyen. After graduating in commercial sciences at the Institut Supérieur de Commerce Saint-Ignace
University of Antwerp
The University of Antwerp is one of the major Belgian universities located in the city of Antwerp. The name is sometimes abbreviated as UA.-History:...
in Antwerp, Simons became from 1909 up to 1923 house teacher of Count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
Brouchoven de Bergeyck in Beveren-Waas
Beveren
Beveren is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Beveren proper, Doel, Haasdonk, Kallo, Kieldrecht, Melsele, Verrebroek and Vrasene....
. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, from 1916 and until 1919 he served as a soldier, first as a gunner, afterwards as interpreter for the British army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. On 8 May 1920 he married Maria Engels, and lived in Schilde
Schilde
Schilde is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Schilde proper and 's Gravenwezel. On January 1, 2006 Schilde had a total population of 19,575. The total area is 35.99 km² which gives a population density of 544 inhabitants per km². It...
. When Count Jozef de Brouchoven de Bergeyck died in 1922, he lost his position as a house teacher. From 1 December 1923 up to 1932 he worked as an editor for the Belgian Farmer Association (Boerenbond) and moved to Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
. He graduated in 1927 with a Master's degree in archaeology and art history at the Catholic University of Leuven
Catholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
. From 1932 onwards until his death in 1948, he worked as an editor at the N.V J. van Mierlo-Proost in Turnhout. During the interbellum, between World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Simons built a reputation as an author of travel tales, tales concerning the Campine
Campine
The Campine is a natural region situated chiefly in north-eastern Belgium and parts of the south-western Netherlands which once consisted mainly of extensive moors, tracts of sandy heath, and wetlands...
(Harslucht, E: Resin air, 1933), short stories (De laatste fles, E: The last bottle, 1930) and novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
s (Dientje Goris, 1935), and as a translator from English, Spanish, and German. He also wrote many song texts, for composers such as Lodewijk De Vocht, Flor Peeters
Flor Peeters
Flor Peeters was a Flemish composer, organist and teacher.-Biography:Born and raised in the village of Tielen , he was the youngest child in a family of eleven...
and Armand Preud'homme.
The most important work of Jozef Simons was Eer Vlaanderen vergaat (E: Before Flanders perishes (1927), a romantic history of the Frontbeweging (E:front movement). The first edition appeared under the pseudonym Ivo Draulans.
Source
- Marcel Verheecke, Jozef Simons, verteller, zanger, Kempenaar, 1963
- Henri Floris Jespers, Eer Vlaanderen vergaat, Jozef Simons (1888-1948), 1988
- Gaston Durnez, Denkend aan Jozef Simons: Een goede kracht in het hart van het volk, 1993
External links
- Jozef Simons (Dutch)
- Jozef Simons (Dutch)