Nahon, Alice |
| POET (BELGIUM) |
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BORN 16 Aug 1896, Antwerpen: Grote Markt 58 - DIED 21 May 1933, Antwerpen: De Carnotstraat 17 GRAVE LOCATION Antwerpen: Schoonselhof, Sint-Bernardsesteenweg, Hoboken (erepark, rondpunt perken a-b-c-d, graf 35) |
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When Alice Nahon worked as a nurse in the First world War, her lungs were damaged by working in damp cellars. From 1917 onwards she lived for six years at the Saint Joseph Institute at Tessenderloo, where she wrote two volumes of poems, "Vondelingketens" (1920) and "Op zachte vooizekens" (1921). Her work soon became very popular, but her doctors didn't hesitate to tell her that her tuberculosis would soon be fatal and she sunk into a depression. Aided by generous readers who had discovered her circumstances, in 1923 she was able to leave for Luzern where she was examined again. It turned out that she didn't suffer from tuberculosis but from chronic bronchitis. She went to Italy where she recovered quickly and she realised that her years at Tessenderloo had been wasted. Then she travelled through Flanders and the Netherlands, where she enjoyed her popularity. In 1927 she felt well enough to accept a job as librarian at the Stedelijke Volksboekerij in Mechelen. For five yeas she worked there and lived at a dwelling in the castle of Cantecroy at Oude-God. In 1932 she had to quit this job because the old building was bad for her health. She moved to an apartment at Carnot Street in Antwerp, but soon she fell ill again and within a year she died. Her death caused a wave of publicity and she was mourned by many. Alice Nahon was buried at the Schoonselhof Cemetery at Antwerp. At the house where she was born (Grote Markt 58, Antwerp) a memorial plaque was erected for her. Related persons • cooperated with Mont, Pol de • knew Walschap, Gerard |
| Images |
 The grave of Alice Nahon at the Schoonselhof, Antwerp. Picture by Androom (27 Jul 2002) |
Sources • Heessen, Hans, Harry Jansen & Ed Schilders, Waar ligt Poot?, De Prom, Baarn, 1997 |
