New masters, lean times

August 4, 1914: in the weeks and months that followed, thousands of Belgians fled the country, away from the violence of war. The border areas were flooded with refugees. They were offered bread, hot soup and a bed by Dutch, French and British hands. In the meantime, other masters were in charge in the occupied cities and villages. These would be lean times: after three months of war, not a single gram of affordable wheat was for sale. Everything was scarce, expensive and nothing could be obtained without money, lots of money, vouchers and food aid from America.
Diane De Keyzer grew up in a family where 'it had to be war again' was not an empty phrase. Fascinated by her grandmothers' stories about their search for war food, she went looking herself: in diaries, letters, photo albums and recipe books. But also in the notes and works of writers, painters and illustrators from that time. She discovered more about usury and smuggling, but also about the great ingenuity of mothers who wrote down their war recipes in a desperate attempt to feed their family.
New Masters, Lean Times offers a true treasure trove of stories and photos of refugees, closed borders and massive food aid ... Even in the smallest villages of this country, they now - a hundred years later - tell about the war of ordinary people.
Journalist Diane De Keyzer previously published The Angel Makers, With Madame at Sea, Shame and Fright, The Kitchen of Masters and Maids, Madame est servie.