Ludovicus Carolus Zielens (13 June 1901 – 28 November 1944) was a Belgian novelist and journalist. He wrote many books, and his most famous work was Moeder, waarom leven wij? [nl]. He also won many awards for his writing.

Biography

Zielens was born in Antwerp to a poor family and worked in the docks. His first work, Schoolkolonie, was published in the magazine Elsevier's Monthly Magazine. This led to him meeting groups of writers, including Herman Robbers and Frans Verschoren. Verschoren helped Zielens get a job in an office, but he did not enjoy it.

Schoolkolonie won several awards, which caused Zielens to join as an editor for the Socialist newspaper Volksgazet (now taken over by De Morgen). His 1931 book Het duistere bloed was another success. His 1934 novel Moeder, waarom leven wij? is considered his most important work and was made into a movie in 1993.

Zielens was killed in a V-2 rocket attack at the end of World War II. He is buried in the Schoonselhof cemetery in Antwerp.