Gezelle, Guido Pierre Théodore Joseph (1830–1899)

Flemish poet. He was a leader in the restoration of literary Flemish and remains one of the greatest modern Flemish poets. His work, some of which anticipates the Impressionism of the later Romantics (see Romanticism), is marked by a blend of religious and patriotic fervour and a rare sensitivity of perception.

Besides various translations from English and French he published many books of verse, including Kerkhofblommen, Dicktoefeningen both 1858, Gedichten 1863, Tijdkrans 1893, and Rijmsnoer om en om het jaar 1897.

Gezelle was born in Bruges, Belgium. As a priest he held teaching posts in Roeselare and Bruges, until the censure of his superiors forced him to accept a curacy at Kortrijk. For seven years this discouragement and frustration brought silence, broken in 1880 by his rehabilitation, though he was not recalled to Bruges until 1899. He was elected a member of the Flemish Academy.