
In a bright Flemish spring where the sun hesitates behind thin clouds, a young farmer named Pallieter greets the day with an exuberant laugh that seems to set the whole countryside humming. He watches the moon turn a bruised‑red apple before it breaks free, and the first warm light of morning spills over the fields, coaxing the buttercups awake. The simple pleasure of the sunrise fills him with such delight that he can’t keep still, his laughter echoing across the meadow as he sings to the nightingale’s song.
When the day fully awakens, Pallieter dashes barefoot to the river, plunging into the cool water with childlike abandon. He swims, dives, and splashes, feeling the liquid rush spark his blood and lift his spirits. Around him friends and family—Marieke, Charlot, and the village folk—observe his joyous rituals, hinting at the everyday adventures and gentle mischief that will color his summer.
Language
nl
Duration
~5 hours (316K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2004-02-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1886–1947
Warm, earthy, and deeply rooted in Flemish life, this Belgian writer became one of the most widely translated authors from Flanders. His stories often blend humor, faith, and affection for ordinary people with a rich sense of place.
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