This paper is designed to determine which textual images are used in order to depict the urban environment of the city of Brussels, as well as the stereotypical representation of its habitants and the “Other” in the city in contemporary Francophone and Anglophone fiction. Four novels have been analysed : Terre d’Asile (1978) written by Belgian writer Pierre Mertens together with Belgian-Moroccan writer Leïla Houari’s Zeida de nulle part (1985) and sequel Quand tu verras la mer (1988). These form the integral part of the Francophone novels. Nigerian-born writer Teju Cole, with his novel Open City (2011) and Indian-born David B.K. Thomas, who wrote Rear Entrance (2010) are the Anglophone novels that were being studied. The study shows that, because of the stock of images that these writers use, Brussels is prevented from acquiring a mythical status.
Bruxelles dans le roman contemporain: Étude du regard de l’Autre sur la ville et ses habitants à travers une sélection d’œuvres belgo-francophones et anglophones
Pieters, T. ((PhD) Student). 2014
Scriptie/Masterproef: Master's Thesis