Summary of Bruges-la-Morte
Hugues Viane is a young widower who moves to Bruges, mourning the loss of his late wife. When he meets Jane, a theatre dancer from Lille who reminds him of his wife, he starts a passionate affair that scandalises the town’s residents. However, when Hugues discovers Jane’s infidelity and realises that she can never replace his lost love, the story reaches a tragic climax as he strangles her in a fit of rage and is left alone with the sound of the city bells echoing in the background.
Reasons to read Bruges-la-Morte
“Bruges-la-Morte” is the most renowned work of Belgian writer Georges Rodenbach and is considered a classic of ‘symbolist’ literature. Set against the romantic and melancholic backdrop of Bruges, the novella captures the atmosphere of a once-thriving city that had, by the time of writing, become a quiet provincial town. “Bruges-la-Morte” was a revelation upon its publication in the late 19th century, and while the people of Bruges still protest its portrayal as a ‘dead city’, the novel played a significant role in establishing Bruges as a tourist destination. The original edition featured 35 drawings and photographs of Bruges, along with a cover design by the artist Fernand Khnopff. The novella has inspired many artists, including Alan Hollinghurst, who took it as a basis for his novel “The Folding Star”.
Setting: Bruges (Belgium)
Original title: Bruges-la-Morte
Year of publication: 1892
Nr of pages: 172
