Granted, the link between these two disparate story topics might, at first glance, seem somewhat remote. What could possibly be the connection between some of the masterpieces of English literature and Belgium’s beloved football team? Let us connect the dots…
The Brontë Sisters—Charotte and Emily—authored some of the most enduring 19th-century literary classics. Charlotte’s novels Jane Eyre and Villette were groundbreaking in that they defied the Victorian era’s norms. Her themes of women’s empowerment and independence resonated with readers then and continue to today. Sister Emily’s Wuthering Heights delved into motifs of revenge, love, and the destructive power of obsession.
The Brontë Sisters were daughters of clergyman Patrick Brontё. Education was paramount in their household — especially when it came to the opportunity to develop their literary talents. Inspired by the classics of Sir Walter Scott, Lord Byron, and Mary Shelley, the young sisters would often write corresponding stories replete with creative, imaginary settings. Sadly, as pre-teens, the siblings lost their mother, Maria, to cancer.
Elizabeth Barnwell, (Maria’s sister) joined the family to care for the children. “Aunt Elizabeth” dedicated her life to her nieces—stressing education by teaching them arithmetic, the alphabet, sewing, and embroidering, and continuing to encourage the girls’ obsessive interest in learning.
Through her efforts, Aunt Elizabeth created an environment that well prepared the sisters for their literary vocations in adulthood. Perhaps it was the restraints of the Victorian era that forced women to publish anonymously or use a male surname (Think: Jane Austin), that the sisters, encouraged by their aunt, decided to move to Brussels.
Brussels in 1842 was considered “the gayest little capital in Europe” —replete with cafes, beautiful boulevards, and theaters. There were balls attended by European royalty and the diplomatic community. But it was Aunt Elizabeth who stressed the fact that the educational opportunities—specifically to learn French and German— were better on the Continent
As the capital of the newly created country of Belgium, Brussels was home to a growing British community centered around the Anglican Church. Such was the case when the Brontё sisters were welcomed by the Reverand Evan Jenkins and his wife Eliza into their large boarding home in Chaussée d’Ixelles.
The Reverend was one of a long line of Jenkins family members who served as Anglican Chaplains to Belgian royalty and international diplomats in Brussels. For two years the Jenkins family befriended the Brontё sisters. The influence of the Brontë’s Brussels experience proved to be pivotal in their writing careers. English literature scholars have long noted that their sojourn in Belgium deeply affected their interests, prose, imagination, and style.
The Jenkins family had four sons, and often, many of their boarders were expat English chums who were studying in Brussels. The Jenkins boarding house was “boy noisy; in that most were “keen sportsmen.” They brought with them the Victorian ethos Muscular Christianity: that sports were an exercise in will power, commitment and fair play. Physically training the body reflected devotion to God and society.
The Jenkins boys were early members of Brussels Cricket Club but all indications are that they were the first to “infect their native Belgian friends with the football virus.” Early photos show that in the 1860’s the Jenkins boys and their expat friends founded the first football club in Belgium and perhaps the first on the Continent.
By the next year the team played a team from Antwerp winning 2-1. (note: Evan’s Jenkins son Charles scored one of the goals). Later that year that Brussels Football Club played “Old Westminster”—-a visiting English team losing 5 to 1. By the end of the decade, the official Royal Belgian Football Association ( Union Belge des Sociétés Athetigues) featured league play with four Brussels teams alongside Antwerp F.C., FC Bruges and FC Liégois. In 1904 the Belgian National team represented the country in international play. They have been known as the Red Devils ever since.
There is little evidence to suggest that the Brontё sisters ever acknowledged the Jenkins boy’s introduction of English football to Belgium. Similarly, there is no evidence to suggest that the passion surrounding Belgian football has anything to do with some of the classics in English literature. To be sure, the defining characteristics between the Brontё sisters and Belgium’s National football team bear little resemblance. But it is intriguing to note that both Belgium’s love affair football and the influence of Brussels on the Brontёs, both emanated from the Jenkins boarding house in Ixelles.
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