Quick Facts
Biography
Ludovicus Carolus Zielens (13 June 1901–28 November 1944) was a Belgian novelist and journalist. He has written many novels, his novel Moeder, waarom leven wij? being the most well known. He also received several awards in recognition for his work.
Biography
Early life and works
He was born in Antwerp to a poor family, Lode Zielens worked in the docks. His first work, Schoolkolonie, was published in Elsevier’s Monthly Magazine. This brought him into contact with literary circles, including writers Herman Robbers and Frans Verschoren. Verschoren found Zielens an office job, but this was not to his liking. Schoolkolonie received a number of awards, and this led to Zielens joining the Socialist newspaper Volksgazet (now absorbed by De Morgen) as an editor. Het duistere bloed of 1931 was a further success. His 1934 novel Moeder, waarom leven wij? is considered his finest work and was filmed in 1993.
Zielens was killed in a V-2 rocket attack at the end of World War II. He is buried at the Schoonselhof cemetery in Antwerp.