Albert Bontridder

Albert Bontridder (1921-2015) was a Flemish architect and poet. He was editor for the innovative magazine Tijd en Mens, introducing modernism into poetry and literature in Flanders. Bontridder debuted in 1951 with the collection ‘Poésie se brise’ in French and ‘Hoog water’ in Dutch. His breakthrough came in 1955, with his socially-committed poems about Willie McGee in ‘Dood hout’. Bontridders verbose, experimental writing – full of surprising images and dumbfounding comparisons – is pervaded by social and ethical issues.