Anton van Wilderode

Who was Anton van Wilderode?

Cyriel Paul Coupé was a Belgian writer and poet, also known by the pseudonym Anton van Wilderode.

Coupé was born in Moerbeke-Waas. He was ordained as a priest on 21 May 1944, and graduated in Classical philology at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. From 1946 until his retirement in 1982, he worked as a teacher in Sint-Niklaas at the Sint-Jozef-Klein-Seminarie. Among his pupils were Paul Snoek and Tom Lanoye.

He made his literary debut in 1939, with the short story Dis al in the magazine Nederland. His debut as a poet followed in 1943, with the collection of poems De moerbeitoppen ruischten. He was cofounder of the magazine Podium. In 1947, he became editor of Dietsche Warande en Belfort. He wrote many poems for special occasions and meetings, such as for the yearly pilgrimages to the IJzertoren, and screenplays for television. His poetry is characterised by the usage of a traditional poetic form and a clear language, combined with a romantic style.

Anton van Wilderode died in Sint-Niklaas.