Belgian literature
Because modern Belgium is a multilingual country, Belgian literature is often treated as a branch of French literature or Dutch literature.
Some writing also exists in the regional languages of Belgium, with published works in both the Walloon language, closely related to French, and also in various regional Flemish or Dutch-related dialects.
German is the third official language in Belgium and is spoken by a small community of about 70,000 German-speakers of the German-speaking Community of Belgium in the border region Eupen-Malmedy. ''See :de:Belgische_Literatur#Die_deutsche_Literatur_in_Belgien.''
Dutch/Flemish writers
- Hendrik Conscience, author of The Lion of Flanders
- Guido Gezelle, noted for his use of West Flemish dialect
- Cyriel Buysse
- Willem Elsschot
- Marnix Gijsen
- Louis Paul Boon
- Hugo Claus
- Jef Geeraerts
- Eric de Kuyper
- Herman de Coninck poet
- Herman Brusselmans
- Tom Lanoye
- Erwin Mortier
- Dimitri Verhulst
Belgian literature in French
- Nicolas Ancion
- Alain Le Bussy
- Francis Baudouin
- Charles De Coster
- Eugène Demolder
- André-Paul Duchâteau
- Georges Eekhoud
- Max Elskamp
- Michel de Ghelderode
- Albert Giraud
- Maurice Grevisse
- Camille Lemonnier
- Suzanne Lilar
- Maurice Maeterlinck
- Thierry Martens
- Pierre Mertens
- Henri Michaux
- Amélie Nothomb
- Jean Ray aka John Flanders for his works in Dutch
- Georges Rodenbach
- J.H. Rosny and J.-H. Rosny aîné & J.-H. Rosny jeune
- Stanislas-André Steeman
- Georges Simenon
- Jean-Philippe Toussaint
- Emile Verhaeren
- Henri Vernes
- Arthur Xhignesse
- Marguerite Yourcenar
Belgian literature in Walloon
Literature in Walloon has been printed since the 16th century or at least since the beginning of the 17th century. Its golden age was in the 19th century: 'That period saw an efflorescence of Walloon literature, plays and poems primarily, and the founding of many theaters and periodicals.' Yves Quairiaux counted 4800 plays for 1860–1914, published or not. In this period plays were almost the only popular show in Wallonia. But this theater remains popular in present-day Wallonia: Theatre is still flourishing with over 200 non-professional companies playing in the cities and villages of Wallonia for an audience of over 200,000 each year. Jacques Ancion wanted to develop a regular adult audience. This regional literature most commonly deals with local folklore and ancient traditions, the most prominent Walloon author being Arthur Masson.- Charles-Nicolas Simonon : "Li Côparèye"
- Nicolas Defrecheux : "Lèyîs-m'plorer"
- Edward Remouchamps wrote the vaudeville theater piece "Tatî l'pèriquî"
- Salme Dieudonné: the novel "Li Houlot"
- Willame Georges, sonnets
- François Renkin, stylized prose
- Henri Simon : "Li Mwert di l'abe" and "Li pan dè bon Dieu"
- Jules Claskin, poetry
- Laloux Auguste : "Li p'tit Bêrt", written before 1940, published in 1963
- Geo Libbrecht : poetry, "Les cloques / Les cleokes."
- Gabrielle Bernard : poetry