Tom Lanoye

Tom Lanoye is a Flemish poet, novelist, playwright, and columnist. 

Some of Lanoye’s poems such as Neon! Een elegisch rockgedicht (Neon! An Elegiac Rock Poem; 1981) and Gent-Wevelgem (1982) acquired cult status in the Flanders of the late 1970s and early 1980s, where the performance of poetry became more and more popular. Eventually, these poems were published as part of his debut In de piste (In the Ring; 1984). This debut was followed by five more poetry collections as well as thirteen works of proze. Six of his novels have been adapted for the screen. 

While his second book of poetry reveals him to be a passionate romantic in search of love and authenticity, his later works Niemands Land (No Man’s Land; 2002) and In Overkant (The Other Side; 2004) are inspired by poetry first published during the First World War. For Lanoye, performance is at the hear of writing: ‘I consider performing to be a part of not only my being an author, but of being an author in general’. 

Tom Lanoye served as Poet Laureate of Antwerp from 2003 until 2005. In 2019, he wrote the Poetry Week Gift, Vrij – Wij? (Free – We?). He has been awarded the Constantijn Huygens Prize for his entire oeuvre and was knighted as Chevalier de l'ordre français des Arts et des Lettres in 2023.