Ward Ruyslinck
Encyclopedia
Raymond De Belser pseudonym
Ward Ruyslinck, is a Flemish
writer. He is the son of Leo De Belser and Germaine Nauwelaers. His father was librarian at an oil company, and Ward Ruyslinck grew up in a Roman Catholic family. During the war the family moved to Mortsel
.
, who returned the novel unread but with an accompanying letter full of recommendations. The manuscript was lost during an air raid in 1943, which devastated their house. He wrote a number of poems and stories, some of which were published in the daily Het Vlaamsche land.
After he finished high school in 1947, he attended the University of Ghent to study Germanic philology. He dropped out after a year, as the death of his older brother in 1948 affected him deeply. He wrote five poems on this occasion, which were distributed among family and friends.
in Antwerp.
He married Alice Burm, and together they have one son, Chris.
His collection of poems, Fanaal in de mist (1956), was awarded the Poëzieprijs der Algemene Kunstkamer in België. In 1957, he published the short story
De ontaarde slapers, about one of his main themes — the unequal battle between individuals and their communities.
His most widely read book Wierook en tranen ("Incense and Tears") was published in 1958. In 1961, with the novel Het dal van Hinnom, he broke with church and society. In 1964, he moved to Pulle and wrote the novel Het reservaat about the illusion of individual freedom. He won the Prijs voor Letterkunde van de Vlaamse provincies for this work. In 1966, he wrote the bittersweet fairy tale
Golden Ophelia.
During the sixties and seventies he traveled a great deal to research magazine articles and visited Poland
, the Soviet Union
, Canada
, and Argentina
. In 1975, he became a member of The Royal Academies for Science and the Arts of Belgium
, and he became its president in 1985. In 1980, he was awarded the first Europalia
prize for his entire oeuvre.
Ward Ruyslinck retired in 1984. After his wife died in 1990, he moved to Meise
. He lives there now with Monika Lo Cascio, and together they wrote De speeltuin in 1992.
Ruyslinck's work combines social commitment with a pessimistic view of life, humor, and satire
. Several of his works were adapted for theatre. De slakken, Golden Ophelia, and Wierook en tranen were made into movies.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Ward Ruyslinck, is a 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...
writer. He is the son of Leo De Belser and Germaine Nauwelaers. His father was librarian at an oil company, and Ward Ruyslinck grew up in a Roman Catholic family. During the war the family moved to Mortsel
Mortsel
Mortsel is a city and municipality close to the city of Antwerp located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the city of Mortsel proper. On January 1, 2006 Mortsel had a total population of 24,427 people. The total area is 7.78 km² which gives a population density of...
.
Early life
At age 12, he had written a novel, Vaargeulen (in English, Channels). His father, who himself wrote the novel Gepantserde Beschaving (Armoured Civilization), sent his son's novel to Stijn StreuvelsStijn Streuvels
Stijn Streuvels, born Franciscus Petrus Maria Lateur, is a Flemish writer. He was born on 3 October 1871 in Heule, Kortrijk, and died in Ingooigem, Anzegem on 15 August 1969 at the age of 98. In 1905 he married Alida Staelens. They had 4 children: Paula , Paul , Dina and Isa...
, who returned the novel unread but with an accompanying letter full of recommendations. The manuscript was lost during an air raid in 1943, which devastated their house. He wrote a number of poems and stories, some of which were published in the daily Het Vlaamsche land.
After he finished high school in 1947, he attended the University of Ghent to study Germanic philology. He dropped out after a year, as the death of his older brother in 1948 affected him deeply. He wrote five poems on this occasion, which were distributed among family and friends.
Career
He has worked as a translator for a traveling agency and at an oil company. He was also appointed curator of the picture collection of the Plantin-Moretus MuseumPlantin-Moretus Museum
The Plantin-Moretus Museum is a museum in Antwerp, Belgium honouring the famous printers Christoffel Plantijn and Jan Moretus. It is located in their former residence and printing establishment, Plantin Press, at the Friday Market.- History :...
in Antwerp.
He married Alice Burm, and together they have one son, Chris.
His collection of poems, Fanaal in de mist (1956), was awarded the Poëzieprijs der Algemene Kunstkamer in België. In 1957, he published the short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
De ontaarde slapers, about one of his main themes — the unequal battle between individuals and their communities.
His most widely read book Wierook en tranen ("Incense and Tears") was published in 1958. In 1961, with the novel Het dal van Hinnom, he broke with church and society. In 1964, he moved to Pulle and wrote the novel Het reservaat about the illusion of individual freedom. He won the Prijs voor Letterkunde van de Vlaamse provincies for this work. In 1966, he wrote the bittersweet fairy tale
Fairy tale
A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...
Golden Ophelia.
During the sixties and seventies he traveled a great deal to research magazine articles and visited Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. In 1975, he became a member of The Royal Academies for Science and the Arts of Belgium
The Royal Academies for Science and the Arts of Belgium
There are two Royal Academies for Science and the Arts in Belgium, corresponding to the two main languages of the country, Dutch and French . The Academies are located in the Palace of Academies in Brussels....
, and he became its president in 1985. In 1980, he was awarded the first Europalia
Europalia
Europalia is a major international arts festival held every two years to celebrate one invited country’s cultural heritage. Europalia was established in Brussels in 1969, and from the beginning Europalia was designed to be a multidisciplinary cultural festival....
prize for his entire oeuvre.
Ward Ruyslinck retired in 1984. After his wife died in 1990, he moved to Meise
Meise
Meise is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the towns of Meise proper and Wolvertem , and, several smaller villages like Sint-Brixius-Rode, Oppem, Meusegem, Impde/Imde, Rossem, Westrode and quarters as Bouchout, Nerom and Slozen. As of...
. He lives there now with Monika Lo Cascio, and together they wrote De speeltuin in 1992.
Ruyslinck's work combines social commitment with a pessimistic view of life, humor, and satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
. Several of his works were adapted for theatre. De slakken, Golden Ophelia, and Wierook en tranen were made into movies.
Awards
- 1958 - Romanprijs van de provincie Antwerpen
- 1958 - Romanprijs van de Kempische Cultuurdagen (HilvarenbeekHilvarenbeekHilvarenbeek is a municipality and a town in the south of the Netherlands, along the border with Belgium.- Population centres :The municipality of Hilvarenbeek also includes the following villages with their own churches: Baarschot, Biest-Houtakker, Diessen, Esbeek and Haghorst.In addition, the...
) - 1959 - Referendum van de Vlaamse letterkundigen
- 1960 - Arkprijs van het Vrije WoordArkprijs van het Vrije WoordThe Arkprijs van het Vrije Woord is a symbolic award which was created in 1951 by Herman Teirlinck and the editorial team of the Nieuw Vlaams Tijdschrift to counteract ideologically driven restrictions on the freedom of expression.He wanted to bring those persons into the spotlight who actively...
- 1960 - Referendum van de Vlaamse letterkundigen
- 1962 - Referendum van de Vlaamse letterkundigen
- 1962 - De prijs van de Vlaamse lezer
- 1964 - August Beernaertprijs van de Koninklijke Academie Voor Nederlandse Taal-en letterkunde
- 1967 - Prijs voor Letterkunde van de Vlaamse Provinciën
- 1975 - Het Gulden Boek van de Lezende Jeugd (V.B.V.B.)
- 1976 - Romanprijs van de provincie Antwerpen
- 1980 - EuropaliaEuropaliaEuropalia is a major international arts festival held every two years to celebrate one invited country’s cultural heritage. Europalia was established in Brussels in 1969, and from the beginning Europalia was designed to be a multidisciplinary cultural festival....
prijs voor Literatuur - 2005 - Prijs voor Letterkunde van de provincie Antwerpen voor het gezamenlijke oeuvre