French Literature Reviews - 2026

The School of the Belgians: Ten Contemporary Novelists
Novel and Narrative Prose

The School of the Belgians: Ten Contemporary Novelists
Francis DANNEMARK

Le Castor Astral, 2007, 10 €

Publisher's overview:

Engaging and rigorous, this book is currently the only practical guide dedicated to the work of the leading Belgian novelists born after 1945.
Priced at 10 €, it features biographical information (written by the authors themselves), original perspectives on the writers (contributed by literary critics, booksellers, and educators), significant excerpts from their works, and—penned by specialists—in-depth analyses of each novelist's literary universe alongside one of their most notable books (selected from titles available in paperback or at an affordable price).
This invitation to read is an essential tool for anyone interested in Belgian literature, and particularly for high school French teachers, who will find in it material ready to be used directly by themselves and their students.
The School of the Belgians? It is not a school of thought, but a generation of fascinating authors who are entirely unique: André-Marcel Adamek, Philippe Blasband, Francis Dannemark, Xavier Deutsch, Thomas Gunzig, Xavier Hanotte, Armel Job, Amélie Nothomb, Bernard Tirtiaux, Jean-Philippe Toussaint. The release of this book will be accompanied by a major promotional campaign at the 2007 Brussels Book Fair. A second volume of The School of the Belgians, scheduled for publication in February 2008, will focus in particular on Alain Bertrand, François Emmanuel, Eva Kavian, Caroline Lamarche, Jean-Luc Outers, Eugène Savitzkaya, Régine Vandamme...

This volume examines the work of ten contemporary Belgian authors born after 1945, including Amélie Nothomb, Jean-Philippe Toussaint, and Francis Dannemark. Rather than representing a shared doctrine or formal movement, this generation encompasses distinct artistic trajectories and literary universes. The publication brings together autobiographical statements, critical perspectives, literary excerpts, and specialized commentaries to introduce readers to these figures of modern writing. It highlights accessible editions and provides structured materials suited for educational settings and general literary exploration alike.

Readers interested in contemporary Francophone literature and European fiction may find this practical guide relevant. The book situates itself within the broader landscape of contemporary Belgian letters, providing an overview of authors whose works continue to shape modern narrative prose. By combining biographical notices with critical commentary and selected texts, the volume serves as an introduction to writers active in the literary field during the early twenty-first century, offering pathways into the study of their respective oeuvres.