New and comprehensive insights into the seminal events that shaped Belgian identity In 1790, between the birth of America (1776) and the creation of the French National Assembly (1789), nine provinces nestled between the French and Dutch borders declared themselves a new free and independent country: the United States of Belgium. Before then, the provinces had been part of the vast Austrian Habsburg Empire ruled by Joseph II. In 1789 revolutionaries from Brussels to Ghent to Namur recruited a grass-roots army that, to the surprise of many, successfully chased imperial forces from the majority of the territories. The exhilaration of military triumph and political independence quickly faded as revolutionary factions fought each other and the European monarchies became more nervous in the face of French radicalization. Yet, the course of events had fostered the solidification of a new identity among the provinces’ inhabitants: Belgianness. This is the story of the emergence of Belgianness in the crucible of revolution. The United States of Belgium tells the story of the First Belgian Revolution before the creation of a language barrier between French and Dutch. It incorporates over 50 contemporary images of the revolutionary era.

"This book shows that there are few stories as remarkable as the complicated love affair Brussels has with beer." - Jonny Garrett, Co-Founder of The Craft Beer Channel, Beer Writer of the Year 2019From the brewery that once employed Congolese freedom fighter Patrice Lumumba, to the race against time to rescue Brussels' rich industrial heritage from the maws of rapacious developers, and the see-sawing fortunes of the city's artisan brewers, Brussels brewing has had a tumultuous past. The city is rightly famed around the world for its vitally important lambic brewing traditions, but there is a history of Brussels brewing brewing that goes so much further and deeper than that. And more than that, the history of beer in Brussels is the history of modern Brussels itself - from a regional backwater to an industrial powerhouse, to the hubris of post-war de-industrialisation and the subsequent revival of local brewing at the end of the 20th century, Brussels and its brewers have seen it all.This collection, bringing together work by Eoghan Walsh on his award-winning blog Brussels Beer City and for Belgian Beer and Food Magazine, brings to life the family dynasties, the brewers, and the activists that sought to keep this invaluable legacy alive into the 21st century. Santeï!"Part picaresque dig into the archives, part elegy for the city's lost breweries, part celebration of Brussels' ineffable spirit, this lucidly written and deeply researched Brussels brewing history is a delight at every turn. Walsh shares key anecdotes from centuries past, draws surprising comparisons, and makes some compelling prognostications for what's next for the city's brewers and beer lovers. This necessary work is a must for anyone who appreciates Belgian beer." - Claire Bullen, Editor, Good Beer Hunting""Fascinating, enjoyable, packed with anecdotes and stories about people and beer (and, er, football skullduggery), this gives the reader an insider's guide to Brussels' beer and brewing history and evokes a sense of nostalgia without being sickly or fussy. Read with a pint or two of Zinnebir to hand And then pour another." - Adrian Tierney-Jones

Mary Thorp, an English governess working for a Belgian-Russian family in German-occupied Brussels, kept a secret war diary from September 1916 to January 1919. This long-forgotten diary sheds light on an important aspect of the First World War: civilian life under military occupation in a transnational conflict.

The author presents a compelling and untold story of Germany's occupation of Belgium after WW1. It's a great, trade history book from a wonderful storyteller.

A Belgian Assortment transports readers to contemporary Belgium, a vibrant and multifaceted nation in the heart of Europe. The country plays host to legions of expatriates. Award-winning author T.D. Arkenberg draws on his own experience as an expat in Brussels to craft this collection of twelve vivid and enticing short stories. The characters who populate the stories are as unique and as diverse as the inhabitants of Belgium. Among these is Sabine, an idealistic Flemish woman. Relocating to Brussels to teach young immigrants, she soon finds her broad-minded ideals compromised. An unexpected lover revives her wounded spirit, but can the couple escape the bias and terror that grip the city? Brothers Hasan and Kadar, transplants from Lebanon, struggle to assimilate. A dark secret threatens to isolate them even further, this time from each other. American Jack Ramsey, free of the fetters of his Catholic upbringing, lives openly as a gay man in Brussels. But a visit from his mother could push him back into the closet. Marion is a shop clerk who finds refuge from her lonely, drab life in the carnival atmosphere of Chatelain, one of Brussels' afternoon markets. A chance encounter offers her a lifeline, but will she grab it? Then there's Marguerite, a charming octogenarian whose quest to recreate the lavish dinner where she first met her late husband inspires an unexpected detour. These are just a few of the colorful and complex characters who await readers in the pages of A Belgian Assortment.