Ward Ruyslinck facts for kids
Raymond De Belser (born June 17, 1929, died October 3, 2014) was a Belgian writer. He used the pen name Ward Ruyslinck. His father worked as a librarian. Ward grew up in a Catholic family. During World War II, his family moved to Mortsel.
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Early Life and Writing Beginnings
Ward Ruyslinck was born in Berchem, Belgium. When he was 12, he wrote a novel called Vaargeulen (which means Channels). His father, who was also a writer, sent Ward's novel to a famous writer named Stijn Streuvels. Streuvels sent it back unread but with helpful advice. Sadly, the story was lost in 1943 during an air raid that damaged their home.
He wrote many poems and stories. Some of these were printed in the newspaper Het Vlaamsche land.
After high school in 1947, he went to Ghent University to study languages. He left after one year. He said this was because his older brother died in 1948, which affected him deeply. He wrote five poems about his brother's death. He shared these with his family and friends.
Ward Ruyslinck's Career
Ward worked as a translator for a travel company. He also worked at an oil company. Later, he became the curator (someone who looks after a collection) of pictures at the Plantin-Moretus Museum in Antwerp.
He married Alice Burm, and they had one son, Chris.
His collection of poems, Fanaal in de mist (1956), won an award called the Poëzieprijs der Algemene Kunstkamer in België. In 1957, he published a short story called De ontaarde slapers. This story was about one of his main ideas: the struggle between individuals and their communities.
His most popular book, Wierook en tranen ("Incense and Tears"), came out in 1958. In 1961, with his novel Het dal van Hinnom, he showed new ideas about church and society. In 1964, he moved to Pulle. There, he wrote the novel Het reservaat, which explored the idea of individual freedom. He won the Prijs voor Letterkunde van de Vlaamse provincies for this book. In 1966, he wrote a story like a fairy tale called Golden Ophelia.
During the 1960s and 1970s, he traveled a lot. He visited countries like Poland, the Soviet Union, Canada, and Argentina to research articles for magazines. In 1975, he became a member of The Royal Academies for Science and the Arts of Belgium. He became its president in 1985. In 1980, he received the first Europalia prize for all his writings.
Ward Ruyslinck retired in 1984. In 1992, Ward Ruyslinck and Monika Lo Cascio wrote a book together called De speeltuin ("The Playground"). This book was about their own lives.
Ruyslinck's books often mix social ideas with a bit of a sad view of life. They also include humor and satire (making fun of things to show a point). Some of his works were made into plays. De slakken, Golden Ophelia, and Wierook en tranen were also made into movies.
Ward Ruyslinck suffered from Alzheimer's disease. He passed away on October 3, 2014, in a retirement home in Meise.
Awards and Recognition
- 1958 - Romanprijs van de provincie Antwerpen
- 1958 - Romanprijs van de Kempische Cultuurdagen (Hilvarenbeek)
- 1959 - Referendum van de Vlaamse letterkundigen
- 1960 - Arkprijs van het Vrije Woord
- 1960 - Referendum van de Vlaamse letterkundigen
- 1962 - Referendum van de Vlaamse letterkundigen
- 1962 - De prijs van de Vlaamse lezer
- 1964 - August Beernaertprijs van the Koninklijke Academie voor Nederlandse Taal- en Letterkunde
- 1967 - Prijs voor Letterkunde van de Vlaamse Provinciën
- 1975 - Het Gulden Boek van de Lezende Jeugd (V.B.V.B.)
- 1976 - Romanprijs van de provincie Antwerpen
- 1980 - Europaliaprijs voor Literatuur
- 2005 - Prijs voor Letterkunde van de provincie Antwerpen voor het gezamenlijke oeuvre
See also
- Flemish literature
Sources
- Website of Frits de Vries, biographer of Ward Ruyslinck
- Ward Ruyslinck
