French Literature Reviews - 2026
Belgium Between Two Centuries
Comparative and World Literature
New publication:
Belgium Between Two Centuries: Laboratory of Modernity 1880–1914, Oxford/Bern, Peter Lang, 2007, collection 'Romanticism and after in France / Le Romantisme et après en France' Vol. 12 — edited by Nathalie Aubert, Pierre-Philippe Fraiture, and Patrick McGuinness
Comprising 13 chapters and serving as the proceedings of a conference entitled Belgium Between Two Centuries: Laboratory of Modernity, held in Oxford in January 2004, this volume explores the literature, art, and culture of modernity in Belgium at the turn of the 20th century. Adopting an interdisciplinary and international approach, the book brings together diverse studies focusing on prominent figures of the art world (such as Maeterlinck, Verhaeren, and Ensor) alongside broader investigations into Art Nouveau in Belgium, the intersections of literature and colonialism, and collaborations between writers and artists. The ties between Belgium and France during this period were so deeply intertwined that their cultural influence spread across Europe primarily through France.
About the editors: Nathalie Aubert is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of French Language and Literature at Oxford Brookes University.
Pierre-Philippe Fraiture is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of French Language and Literature at the University of Warwick.
Patrick McGuinness is a Fellow of St Anne's College, University of Oxford.
This volume emerges from scholarly discussions surrounding the complex cultural landscape of late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-century Europe. During this era, artistic and literary production frequently engaged with rapid technological advancements, shifting urban spaces, and new modes of visual and textual expression. Scholars within the broader fields of French and comparative cultural studies often examine how regional hubs contributed to wider European avant-garde movements. The collection reflects these scholarly interests by gathering contributions that address the multifaceted intersections of aesthetic innovation and national identity during a period of significant transformation.
Readers interested in the cultural history and artistic exchanges between Belgium and France at the turn of the twentieth century may find this volume relevant. Comprising 13 chapters and serving as the proceedings of a conference held in Oxford in January 2004, the book explores the literature, art, and culture of modernity in Belgium at the turn of the 20th century. Adopting an interdisciplinary and international approach, it brings together diverse studies focusing on prominent figures of the art world alongside broader investigations into Art Nouveau, the intersections of literature and colonialism, and collaborations between writers and artists.