Willem Elsschot was a Flemish writer and poet (pseudonym of Alphonsus Josephus de Ridder). A few of his works have been translated into English. Elsschot published poems in a magazine titled "Alvoorder". His writing took off while he worked in Rotterdam, where he wrote Villa des Roses (1913). His most famous work came in the 1920s and 1930s: Lijmen (1924), Kaas (1933), Tsjip (1934) en Het Been (1938). Central themes in his work are business and family life. His style is characterised by detailed descriptions of surroundings and a mild cynicism. In his first books he works with the same characters, giving the readers a familiarity and a sketch of life in Antwerp during the 1930s. His characters Boorman an entrepreneur on one side (always looking for scams and opportunities like in the book Lijmen) and Frank Laarmans, a clerk, evolve through these books until Laarmans (in the very poetical, pensioen "pension"), in his later days finds himself going home. Retired. And goes out for the very last time before ending, very cynically, but satisfied... home. Some lines of his poem Het Huwelijk/The Marriage (1933) are among the most cited poetry in the Dutch language.... More • http://en.wikipedia. ... m_Elsschot View • Books • Images • Videos • Search Related • Poets • Advertising • Antwerp • Belgium • Literature • Writers • People