In the small village of Kerkom (Flemish Brabant), there once lived a man who listened to the name of Karel. Nothing remarkable here as half of Flanders was either called Karel or Jan during those days, but this Karel was said to be fearless. So fearless, in fact, that he was one of the very …
Continue reading Flemish Folktale: The Night the Sky Cackled
(Published in The Copperfield Review in November 2018) ‘Cécile, Cécile!’ Victoire’s voice sounded more like a whisper instead of a shout. The roars of the women who had gathered on the market place reigned over the usual tones that governed Paris. Vendors muttered into each other’s ears rather than yelling the latest prices of cabbages …
Buy the book if you love these stories for more! Tell me, is someone knocking on all the doors in the village to let the people know that there will be dancing and rejoicing around a bonfire tonight? Has someone told the innkeeper that he will sell more beer today than on any of the …
Continue reading Flemish Folktales Retold: The Last Letter of Sefa Bubbels
Buy the book if you love these stories for more! “I need another barn, and the devil may build it for all I care. I must have another barn,” Joost said as he stared at the bundles of sheaves piled so high they were doomed to rot. The farmhand had stacked them in front of …
Besides the medieval facades, the cobbled alleys and the charming bridges, the city of Bruges is also well-known for the elegant swans that majestically swim in the narrow canals, and several folktales tell the story how these swans came to Bruges. The first tale is my favourite and the lesser-known narrative of the two. According …
A Dreadful Fairy Book I started reading this book on a Tuesday evening. In the first chapter we meet our heroine Shade. She is devastated after her house burns down and all of her precious books are lost in the fire. I immediately put the book down. This wasn't the kind of book that I …
Continue reading Book review: A Dreadful Fairy Book by Jon Etter
Hello everyone, Welcome to my website! I have to admit that I'm quite nervous about launching a website. Self-doubt is my biggest adversary, and it's not an easy thing to combat. I'm trying to put all of these uncertainties aside, and go for it anyway. Introducing myself is not one of my strongest points either, …
Signe Maene 