author
Eugène de Bock
1889–1981
A key figure in Flemish literary life, he combined a writer’s curiosity with a publisher’s eye for new voices. His books and publishing work helped shape the world of Dutch-language literature in Belgium across much of the 20th century.
1 Audiobook
Hendrik Conscience, zijn persoon en zijn werk
by Eugène de Bock
About the author
Born in Borgerhout on April 23, 1889, and later dying in Schoten on July 22, 1981, Eugène de Bock was a Belgian Flemish author, publisher, and energetic promoter of the book trade. He is especially remembered as the founder and director of De Sikkel, the Antwerp publishing house he launched in 1919.
De Bock played an important part in Flemish cultural life not only by publishing books, but also by helping create spaces for literary exchange. He was associated with the expressionist magazine Ruimte and took part in efforts to strengthen Flemish publishing more broadly. That made him one of those rare literary figures who influenced culture both on the page and behind the scenes.
As a writer, he produced biographies, literary history, and studies of books and publishing. Sources describe works on figures such as Hendrik Conscience and Lode Baekelmans, along with broader histories of Flemish literature and the book trade in the Low Countries. For listeners interested in authors who also helped build the literary world around them, De Bock is an especially fascinating presence.