Flemish Legends

Considered primitive material when originally published in 1920, the tales contained in De Coster's FLEMISH LEGENDS were scattered among the general folklore of Brabant and Flanders in Belgium. Written in the curious vernacular of the 16th century and included in this charmingly illustrated volume are The Church of Haeckendover, The Little Stone Boy, The Man in White, Sir Halewyn in the Wood, The Song of the Head, Smetse Caught by the Two Branches, In Smetse's Garden, The Devil-King and the Sack. CHARLES THODORE HENRI DE COSTER (1827-1879) a Belgian writer born of an official of the papal Nuntius in Munich, studied law and literature in Brussels, and eventually taught literature there as well. By 1855, he was established as a leading journalist and freelance writer, and his popular narrations enjoyed large success throughout Belgium. Curiously, De Coster became famous only after his death in 1879.