Suzanne Lilar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Suzanne Lilar
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Suzanne Lilar in the 1980s
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| Born |
Suzanne Verbist
21 May 1901 |
| Died | 11 December 1992 (aged 91) Brussels, Belgium
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| Nationality | Belgian |
| Occupation | essayist, novelist, playwright |
Suzanne Lilar (born Suzanne Verbist; 21 May 1901 – 11 December 1992) was a Belgian writer from Flanders. She wrote French books, including essays, novels, and plays. She was married to Albert Lilar, who was a Minister of Justice in Belgium. Suzanne Lilar was also the mother of two famous daughters: the writer Françoise Mallet-Joris and the art historian Marie Fredericq-Lilar.
From 1952 to 1992, Suzanne Lilar was a member of the Royal Academy of French Language and Literature. This is a very important group for French writers and thinkers.
Contents
About Suzanne Lilar's Life
Suzanne Lilar's mother was a school teacher, and her father worked as a station master for the railway. Suzanne grew up in Ghent, a city in Belgium. After a short first marriage, she moved to Antwerp. There, she made history by becoming the first woman lawyer in the city.
In 1929, she married Albert Lilar, who was also a lawyer. He later became a very important government official, serving as a Minister of Justice. Suzanne and Albert had two daughters. Françoise Mallet-Joris, born in 1930, became a well-known writer. Marie Fredericq-Lilar, born in 1934, became an expert in art history from the 1700s. After her husband passed away in 1976, Suzanne Lilar moved to Brussels in 1977.
Suzanne Lilar's Education
In 1919, Suzanne Lilar started studying at the State University of Ghent. She focused on philosophy, which is the study of big ideas about life and knowledge. In 1925, she became the first woman to earn a law degree from the university. This was a big achievement for women at that time.
During her studies, she learned about Hadewych, a famous poet and mystic from the 1200s. A mystic is someone who tries to find a deeper, spiritual understanding of life. Suzanne Lilar's interest in Hadewych greatly influenced her later writings. Her books often explored ideas about history, culture, and how people think and feel. She also looked for beauty and love in her work. Her ideas were both modern and timeless.
Suzanne Lilar's Writing Career
Suzanne Lilar was a very smart writer who used clear and exact language in her books. She was a modern writer and also believed in women's rights. At the same time, she knew a lot about traditional Western ideas and philosophy. In 1956, she joined the Royal Academy of French Language and Literature. Her books have been translated into many different languages, showing how important her work is.
Early Writings and Plays
Suzanne Lilar started her writing career as a journalist. In 1931, she reported on the situation in Republican Spain for a newspaper called L'Indépendance belge.
Later, she began writing plays. Her first play was Le Burlador (1946). This play told the story of Don Juan, a famous character, but from a woman's point of view. It showed how good Suzanne Lilar was at understanding people's thoughts and feelings. She wrote two more plays:
- Tous les chemins mènent au ciel (1947): This was a play about religious ideas, set in a convent in the 1300s.
- Le Roi lépreux (1951): This play was about the Crusades, which were religious wars in the Middle Ages.
Essays and Ideas
Suzanne Lilar wrote many important essays. Her first essays were about the theatre. In Soixante ans de théâtre belge (1952), she wrote about the importance of Flemish theatre traditions.
She also wrote Journal de l'analogiste (1954), where she explored how we experience beauty and poetry through making connections between different things.
One of her most important books was Le Couple (1963), which was translated into English as Aspects of Love in Western Society. In this book, she thought deeply about the role of women in relationships throughout history. She also wrote essays about famous thinkers like Jean-Paul Sartre (À propos de Sartre et de l'amour, 1967) and Simone de Beauvoir (Le Malentendu du Deuxième Sexe, 1969).
Autobiographical Books and Novels
Suzanne Lilar wrote two books about her own life: Une Enfance gantoise (1976) and À la recherche d'une enfance (1979). These books shared stories from her childhood in Ghent.
She also wrote two novels in 1960: Le Divertissement portugais and La Confession anonyme. The novel La Confession anonyme was made into a movie called Benvenuta in 1983 by the Belgian director André Delvaux. The movie explored a strong and emotional relationship between a young Belgian woman and her Italian partner.
Literary Awards and Recognition
Suzanne Lilar received many awards for her writing:
- Le Burlador: Won the Prix Picard in 1946 and the Prix Vaxelaire in 1947.
- Journal de l'Analogiste: Won the Prix Sainte-Beuve in 1954.
- Le Couple: Won the Prix Ève Delacroix in 1963.
- In 1972, she received the Prix quinquennal de la critique de de l'essai from the Académie française.
- In 1973, she won the Prix Belgo-Canadien for all her work.
- Une enfance gantoise: Won the Prix Saint-Simon in 1977.
- In 1980, she received the Prix Europalia for her entire collection of works.
- In 1982, a special meeting was held in Brussels to discuss Suzanne Lilar's work. Many famous writers and thinkers, including her daughter Françoise Mallet-Joris, took part. Their essays were later published in a book called "Cahiers Suzanne Lilar" in 1986.
Images for kids
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Suzanne Lilar by Charles Leirens, signed, 1950s
See also
In Spanish: Suzanne Lilar para niños
