Charles de Coster (de Coster Charles)

(1827-1879)
Born August 20, 1827 in Munich, grew up in Belgium. In 1855 he graduated from the University of Brussels. He served in the bank, he taught at the Military Academy, was one of the founders of the weekly 'Eulenspiegel'. In journalism demanded recognition of the Flemish people in the government, sharply acted on social issues. De Coster died in Ixelles May 7, 1879.
While working on his best book, The Legend of Thiele Ulenspiegel and Lamme Gudzake (La Lgende de Thyl Ulenspiegel et de Lamme Goedzak, 1867), De Coster inspired by patriotic feelings. He hoped that the restoration was the heroic past of the Belgians be moved to fight for the future greatness of his people. His hero, people's favorite Till Eulenspiegel, joker and jester, became a symbol of resistance of the people of tyranny and oppression. To enhance the effectiveness of his book, the epic, the author suffered a folk hero of the book 14 in. in the 16 century covered gezov struggle with the Spanish conquerors, with the Inquisition. De Coster did not care about the historical reliability of the picture, its truthfulness provide artistic means - an archaic French, juicy vernacular. The inspiration he drew from Flemish painters, the spirit of their art fanned all his work. Militant antiklerikal writer defiantly, unconcealed bias and to Roman Catholics and Protestants.

In the Flemish legends (Lgendes Flammandes, 1858) De Coster F., following the example of Rabelais transposed to the Old French medieval tradition of Flanders. Posthumously published an historical drama Stephanie (Stephanie). Among his other works - Gypsies (Les Bohmiens, 1868), a psychological novel of contemporary life Honeymoon (Le Voyage de noce, 1872), The Marriage of Thule (Le Marriage de Toulet, 1879).