The tuberculous world of Maxence Van der Meersch

Abstract

Maxence Van der Meersch (1907-1951) was a French writer whose novels encompassed social inequities of the time. Among them, those related to tuberculosis are of special interest. This was a common disease that affected his family members and ultimately caused his death. In his narrations, the author refers to the various signs of the illness, the diagnostic methods, the patients’ behaviour, their environment, how it affected their employment situation, the economic difficulties, treatment resources and complications. As the novels’ plots are developed throughout the so called “sanatorial age of tuberculosis”, the author describes the events occurring in a public sanatorium. The similitude among the situations lived by the writer and his wife, and those of the imaginary couples in the novels are highlighted. During
his last years, Van der Meersch’s success declined due to the complications of his illness, and because of the harsh criticism towards some of his writings. Particularly, the critiques posed by the medical professionals of the time, who rejected the raw language, inaccurate technical descriptions, and, above all, the promotion of an objected anti-tuberculosis regime.