Roman catholic faith, and adopted moral values and an attitude of life based on stoicism. This became apparent in his first novel Het boek van Joachim van Babylon (The book of Joachim van Babylon), which was first published in 1947. From then on, he published a series of novels, such as Goed en kwaad (Good and evil, 1951), Lament for Agnes (1951), De diaspora (The Diaspora, 1961), Zelfportret, gevleid natuurlijk (Self-portrait, flattered of course) (1965) and De parel der Diplomatie (The Pearl of Diplomacy). In 1968, he wrote the theatre play Helena op Itahaka. On his relation to Catholicism, he wrote De afvallige (The renegade) and Biecht van een heiden (Confession of a heathen), which were both published in 1971. His literary work is a testimony of a moralist, who, in spite of everything, goes his own way and holds high the moral values of good and courage against evil. His literary work was awarded the Belgian national prize for literature in 1959, and 1969 and the Prijs der Nederlandse Letteren in 1974. In 1975, he was knighted and became a Baron. Gijsen died in Lubbeek, Belgium in 1984. Bibliography (Books by Gijsen / Goris in English translation) Marnix Gijsen: The book of Joachim of Babylon. Transl. by Fernand G. Renier and Anne Cliff. London, East and West Library, 1951 Marnix Gijsen: Some scholarly comments on the sayings of the Dutch poet Leo Vroman: Liever heimwee dan Holland. The Hague, Stols, 1955 Marnix Gijsen: Lament for Agnes. Transl. by W. James-Gerth. Boston, Twayne, 1975. Jan-Albert Goris: Belgium in Bondage (1943), introduction by James Hilton The miracle of Beatrice (introduction by Jan-Albert Goris) (1944) Jan-Albert Goris: Strangers should not whisper. New York, Fischer, 1945 Jan-Albert Goris: The liberation of Belgium (1945) Jan-Albert Goris: The growth of the Belgian nation (1946) Jan-Albert Goris & Julius S. Held: Rubens in America. Antwerp, 1947 Jan-Albert Goris: Belgian letters. A short survey of creative writing in the French and Dutch languages in Belgium (1946) Jan-Albert Goris: Modern sculpture in Belgium (1948) Jan-Albert Goris: Portraits of Flemish Masters in American collections (1949) Jan-Albert Goris: Drawings by modern Belgian artists (1951) Jan-Albert Goris: Candid opinions on sundry subjects. An anthology of his editorial writings for the Belgian trade review, 1954-1964. Amsterdam, Meulenhoff, 1964 See also Flemish literature Sources G.J. van Bork en P.J. Verkruijsse, De Nederlandse en Vlaamse auteurs (1985) Marnix Gijsen Marnix Gijsen 1899 births 1984