Leekedichtjens Rijmen en dichten zoo oude als nieuwe - Genestet, Petrus Augustus de 1829-1861 (Haarlem Kruseman, 1860)
Génestet (1829-1861) was a Remonstrant poet
The main characters in the Leekedichtjes by P.A. de Génestet (1829-1861) are fanatical preachers and ordinary churchgoers. This puts the collection at the centre of current events. In 1860, a conflict flared up in the Netherlands between modern and orthodox Protestants. Modern preachers wanted to adapt the faith to the new age. They did not take the Bible literally, so new scientific discoveries, such as Darwin's theory of evolution, posed no problem. Orthodox preachers wanted to leave everything as it was and did take the Bible literally. There were fierce discussions between the adherents of the two movements. In the Leekedichtjes, De Génestet takes the sharpshooters of both sides to task. Not they, but God knows the truth.
De Génestet chose a unique position in this battle. Instead of quarrelling with other preachers over minor points of doctrine, he sided with the ordinary believer, who could no longer make sense of the quarrelling. In the thirty-fourth poem, he explains what he thinks a 'Leekedichtje' is for: 'it teaches you to deliberate,/ What is true and holy, what is not.' So the reader has to start thinking for himself about what he believes. Although he was a pastor, De Génestet did not pose as an authority in the Leekedichtjes, but as someone without theological training, a layman. That is why the collection is called Leekedichtjes.
Keywords: 19th Century (1801-1900); Poetry