A close and frank collaboration between the author Marcel Bolle De Bal, a Belgian sociologist of international renown, and myself, as editor of his latest book entitled "At the heart of Europe: a life story", has given birth to this essay which is rather a summary and biographical work. The great admiration and deep respect that I have for Mr. Marcel Bolle De Bal encouraged me to undertake this editorial work with great responsibility and to accept this important challenge. I realize the honor I have to present to the general public on the one hand: the personality of Marcel Bolle De Bal, a humanist sociologist, a psychologist and philosopher, researcher and simply a very intelligent person, carrying a huge baggage of knowledge and a big heart; on the other hand, his works, his research work, his freemasonic activity, his personal creations and his conclusions following a long professional experience.