The New Carthage

La nouvelle Carthage (The New Carthage) is a novel by Georges Eekhoud, published in 1888. While Eekhoud was a significant Belgian regionalist writer, known for his descriptive realism and unique language, his novels often lacked strong plot construction and character development. La nouvelle Carthage, set in Antwerp, is considered his best novel, with its brilliance stemming from its individual episodes rather than a cohesive narrative.1

The novel explores the lives of working classes and social outcasts, reflecting Eekhoud's interest in social reform and his ability to depict both urban and rural settings. Eekhoud also wrote poetry, essays, plays, and art criticism, and co-founded the radical literary review Le Coq rouge.1