Brussels: A Cultural and Literary History

by André de Vries

A fascinating look at the figures that have shaped the rich cultural heritage of the Belgian capital.

Genres: History, Travel

246 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2002

Reviews

[K.M. Weiland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great little primer on Brussels in particular and Belgium by extension. It’s a fast read, but well-organized, entertaining, and interesting.

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered about the city of Brussels in Belgium? If someone asked you about it, what could you tell them? Brussels by André de Vries is quite informative in this regard. After reading it, one is sure to feel confident in discussing Belgium with a focus on Brussels.

The author goes into detail about its architecture, the people, including famous visited throughout time, its works of art and books, and even music. It is all presented through the lens of history. Many examples are given, and the words of famous and historical people are shown to highlight points. One will also learn about the languages and politics there.

Brussels has its own unique problems, and the author of this book shows us how they dealt with tricky situations. De Vries it very knowledgeable about the topic. Whether you want to travel the Brussels or just educate yourself, this is a good book to check out.

[Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though definitely not a substitute for a good travel guide, if you're going to Brussels, this book is packed with a lot of information to supplement that travel guide and help anyone get a better handle on Brussels culture and history. It's a good introduction to the city for the group of MUW students I'll be taking there on study abroad. We'll be studying primarily Modernist art and literature, and they need something concise that will give them some context for the things they will read and see. Since the book is organized by places around the city, it will probably make more sense for them once we've arrived.

[Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Going to Brussels at end of September and need some background...decent historical and cultural overview of Brussels with some funny stories...

[K.H. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry, but surely Brussels must have a more interesting history than this.