Origins & Early Life

Pierre Ryckmans (28 September 1935 – 11 August 2014), better known by his pen name Simon Leys, was a Belgian-Australian sinologist and translator. He lived in Australia from 1970. His work focused on the politics and traditional culture of China, calligraphy, French and English literature, the commercialization of universities, and nautical fiction. His trilogy Les Habits neufs du président Mao (1971), Ombres chinoises (1974) and Images brisées (1976) denounced the Cultural Revolution in China and the idolizing of Mao in the West.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Pierre Ryckmans was born in Uccle, an upper-middle-class district of Brussels, to a prominent Belgian family living in a house on Avenue des Aubépines. He was the son of a publisher, the grandson of Alfonse Ryckmans, an Antwerp alderman and vice president of the Senate, the nephew of Pierre Ryckmans, a governor general of the Belgian Congo, and Gonzague Ryckmans, a professor at the Université catholique de Louvain and a recognized expert of Arabic epigraphy. He attended the Servites de Marie primary school near his home, then studied Greek and Latin humanities at the Cardinal Mercier diocesan school in Braine-l'Alleud. There...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• 14th Dalai Lama — Contemporary (Born in 1935) (1935): Spiritual leader of Tibet and head of Tibetan Buddhism since 1940.
• A. J. Foyt — Contemporary (Born in 1935) (1935): Legendary American racing driver, known for four-time Indy 500 victory.
• Abraham Isaac Kook — Contemporary (Died in 1935) (1935): Pioneering Orthodox Rabbi and Father of Religious Zionism.
• 2014 League of Legends World Championship — Contemporary (Born in 2014) (2014): The 4th League of Legends World Championship, held in Asia in 2014.
• Alain Resnais — Contemporary (Died in 2014) (2014): Pioneering French filmmaker exploring memory, consciousness, and narrative structure.
• Alexander Grothendieck — Contemporary (Died in 2014) (2014): Pioneering figure in modern algebraic geometry and category theory.
• Alexandre Cabanel — Shared historical date (09-28 · Born) (1823): Prominent French Academic painter, celebrated for historical and mythological subjects.
• Althea Gibson — Shared historical date (09-28 · Died) (2003): Pioneering American tennis and golf star who broke racial barriers in sports.
• Alex Haley — Shared historical date (08-11 · Born) (1921): Pioneering author of 'Roots,' who brought Black American genealogy to global prominence.
• Alfredo Binda — Shared historical date (08-11 · Born) (1902): Pioneering Italian cyclist, renowned for five Giro d'Italia wins and multiple world titles.
• 1935 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1935
• September 28 (09-28) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on September 28
• 2014 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2014
• August 11 (08-11) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on August 11