Contents -- Acknowledgements -- List of Illustrations -- Introduction -- Part 1 'Released from the French Yoke' 1814-1819 -- Chapter 1 The Language and the Literature -- The Language Resolution of 1814 -- Criticism of the Language Resolution -- The Language Resolution in Literature -- Chapter 2 The Myth of Waterloo -- Chapter 3 The Book Publishing Industry -- Press Freedom -- Copyright -- The Reprint -- Attempts to Collaborate -- Chapter 4 The World of Literary Societies -- In Defence of the Rhetorical Tradition -- Chambers of Rhetoric under the Flag of Holland -- Antwerp: Tot Nut der Jeugd -- Chapter 5 Aen de Belgen (1818) -- 'An Undefended Case' -- United in History and Freedom -- Willems' Family -- Chapter 6 Epilogue -- Part 2 'The Dawn of Freedom, Civilisation and Prosperity' 1819-1825 -- Chapter 7 Education and Literature -- The Situation in Education -- Main Points of Education Policy -- Appointments -- Prejudices, Misfortunes and Abuses -- Successes and Failures -- The Significance of Anthologies, Handbooks and Histories of Literature -- Chapter 8 The World of Literary Societies -- The Literary Societies -- The Chambers of Rhetoric -- Society for the Benefit of All -- Chapter 9 The Book Publishing Industry -- Trade in 'Dutch Books' -- Attempts to Collaborate -- French Translations -- The Reprint and the Association -- Chapter 10 Epilogue -- Part 3 The Parting of Minds 1825-1830 -- Chapter 11 Religion and Literature -- A Problematic Royal Decree -- Willems' 'Moderate Catholicism' -- 'A Hundred Eyes and Still Blind': The Journal De Argus -- Chapter 12 The World of Literary Societies -- 'Institutions of the Devil' -- New Societies in Lier and Eeklo -- Chapter 13 Literature -- The Belgische Muzen-Almanak (1826-1830) -- The Almanak voor Blijgeestigen (1826-1831) -- De Argus (1825-1826) -- Chapter 14 The Book Publishing Industry.

Laurens Janszoon Coster as a Divisive Element -- Attempts to Collaborate -- Chapter 15 Epilogue -- Epilogue 1830-1834 -- Chapter 16 The Belgian Revolution and Literature -- The South -- The North -- The Belgian Revolution in Literature -- Chapter 17 Commentary -- Notes to Literature References -- Bibliography -- Index.