Product Description

Set during the turbulent years of 1939 to 1947, this is the story of a nation's coming of age, seen through the eyes of an adolescent, Louis Seynaeve. Returning home from his Catholic boarding-school to Walle, he finds that his family is more than willing to collaborate with the Germans.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1048192 in Books
• Published on: 1994-04-28
• Original language: Dutch
• Binding: Paperback
• 624 pages

Customer Reviews

Big in Belgium ;)
The sorrow of Belgium, one of the better contemporary novels in Belgian (Dutch) literature, a telling story of every day life in WWII and the repression that followed it. A beautifull, not very flattering look at Flemish/Belgian Society. The translation doesn`t offer the unique quality the novel has in its original version, but it`s still more then worth a read.

Coming of age in war-time Flanders
I agree with Ozzie from Ghent, although I read The Sorrow of Belgium in English after having lived in Flanders. It gives a real feel for life in a West Flemish town (? Kortrijk) in the years leading up to and including World War II. Yes, if you know the Low Countries you will feel more than a little nostalgia. But when will someone translate Claus's "Geruchten" (Rumors)?