Willem Elsschot: Myths About Life

Jan van Hattem delved into the archives for three years and made some shocking discoveries. In Willem Elsschot. Myths in Life, he reveals, among other things, who the real Charles Boorman was. Thanks to this discovery, the author also has a completely new explanation for the fact that Willem Elsschot 'remained silent' for almost ten years. And why did the apolitical Elsschot write the infamous 'Borms' poem, a tribute to a collaborator? Jan van Hattem found much more: Willem Elsschot was not the discoverer of Louis Paul Boon, as is generally assumed, and he was not refused membership of the Royal Flemish Academy because of the 'Borms' poem. In fact, the French-ignorant student, the Flemish nationalist, the director of an advertising agency, the advertising innovator, the hard-nosed businessman and the communist in or behind Willem Elsschot never existed. They were all camouflages that served to maintain the Elsschot myth.