A discussion about the Belgian author Ernest Claes, starting from the consideration that his work is liable to a double reduction in the way it is received. First of all, based on his book ’De Witte’, he is considered as a protagonist of heimat literature, whereas his work as a journalist is excluded. This also creates an image of his work as “good-natured” literature and part of his work, which conveys a healthy dose of cynicism, is pushed aside in an almost systematic way. The stereotype has turned into stone.