George+Rodenbach

George Rodenbach was a novelist and poet who was born on July 16, 1855 and died on December 25, 1898 at the age of 43. He impacted the lives of those in the 1800s and even those today. George studied law in his home country at the University of Ghent, but eventually gave up that lifestyle to be a full time writer. His early works were known mainly in Belgium until 1886 when “The White Youthfulness” (translated) was published. Some of his best poetry includes “The Realm of Silence” and “The Enclosed Lives”. One of his most famous pieces was ‘Bruges-la-Morte’ or ‘The Dead (City of) Bruges'.

Bruges-la-Morte was a short novel written by Rodenbach, notable because it was a classic symbolist novel and the first work of fiction illustrated with photographs. It tells the story of Hugues Viane, a widower who takes refuge in Bruges, Belgium. He lives among the relics of his former wife, grieving. He eventually becomes obsessed with a dancer who performs at the opera, “Robert lediable,” and bears a likeness to his wife. The book has beautiful poetic evocation of the decaying city of Bruges, and is incredible in its innovative form. This book influenced many writers following him, and still does today.

Incredibly, George’s gravesite/tomb is located in Paris, France in P è re Lachaise cemetery, being called ‘the most romantic grave.’ His legacy lives on in not only Paris, but also his hometown, as his descriptions of the city in his novel are utterly unforgettable. The beauty of his poetry was inspired by where he lived, from Belgium to Paris. It would be incredible to visit the places he wrote about and see the sights he saw.