How did Hendrik Conscience help establish the Flemish novel?

Hendrik Conscience is widely recognized as the creator of the Flemish novel, a contribution so significant that he was said to have "taught his people to read."12

He established the genre by writing in Dutch (Flemish) and drawing inspiration from his country's history and the romantic tradition of Sir Walter Scott. His pivotal work, De leeuw van Vlaanderen (1838; The Lion of Flanders), served as a passionate epic regarding the revolt of Flemish towns against France and the victory of the Flemish militia at the Battle of the Golden Spurs in 1302.1

Beyond his historical fiction, Conscience helped solidify the development of the Flemish novel by transitioning toward idyllic realism, producing numerous tales and novels focused on urban and rural life, such as De loteling (1850; The Conscript). His work was a central element of the 19th-century Flemish literary and national renaissance, characterized by vivid narratives and imagination that resonated internationally through numerous translations.1