Willem Elsschot

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Alphonsus Josephus de Ridder, writing as Willem Elsschot, was a renowned Belgian author and poet whose works have been widely translated into English. Born in Antwerp, de Ridder studied economics and business as he grew up, but his passion for literature developed during secondary school. As a young man, de Ridder took on various jobs across European cities, including Antwerp, Brussels, Rotterdam, and Paris. During World War I, he served as secretary to a national food relief committee in Antwerp. After the war, he launched an advertising agency that remained successful until his death. De Ridder made his literary debut as Elsschot with poetry, but it was his prose that brought him widespread fame. His notable works include Villa des Roses, Lijmen, Kaas, Tsjip, and Het Been, novels that masterfully blend tragic and comedic elements. Tragically, de Ridder passed away in Antwerp in 1960, posthumously receiving a national literary award. He was laid to rest at the Antwerpen Schoonselhof cemetery. A statue honoring his memory bears an inscription: "We are all flesh and blood of some sort; the rain wipes away our existence." This poignant phrase, translated from Dutch, serves as a testament to de Ridder's enduring legacy.