In the heart of Europe : a life story

Bolle De Bal narrated: an attempt to provide some answers to the questions raised by those who bear or will bear this original name and even by some people intrigued by it.Memories of my life: because at the end of more than half a century of research in the field of human sciences I came to the conclusion that the most promising method to give an account of existential realities in sociology was that of life stories. As these memories unfolded I preferred for the sake of precision and modesty to adopt the expression memories of my life .Evolution of society : I hesitated for a long time to use this expression which corresponds to my sensitivity as a sociologist. Indeed I gradually became aware that on the one hand I had neither the leisure nor the means to deal with the society in general - which would only be of limited interest - and that on the other hand my society the one that has accompanied and permeated my entire life experience in fact comprised three essential and complementary dimensions: Belgian European and global.