Brussels, although less familiar to readers and literature scholars than other cities, has inspired authors from various countries since the 19th century. Writing Brussels brings together 14 in-depth essays and an introduction that explore the city's many literary guises: capital of Belgium and Europe, multicultural metropolis, multilingual Babylon, surreal maze, city of flaneurs, café patrons, tourists, migrants and expats. This book proves that Brussels deserves more academic attention within urban literary studies.

Why?

• Discover Brussels through the eyes of writers and immerse yourself in the rich literary presence of this extraordinary city
• Writing Brussels offers a fresh look at Brussels as a literary capital, a place that has inspired writers from across the world

What?

• The book contains 14 essays and an introduction that contribute to urban literary studies and discusses both well-known and lesser-known authors who depict Brussels in their work
• From realistic to surreal images, representations of Brussels are diverse and complex. The essays explore this wide range of representations of the Belgian capital
• The essays delve into issues such as nationality, European identity, language and culture, and show how authors exploit urban stereotypes to reinforce their narratives

For whom?

• Researchers and students in literature and (art)history; urban studies
• The general (Brussels/international) public interested in how our Belgian capital is represented in literature