Georges Simenon Books

Although not commonly heard of nowadays (in the English speaking world at least) Georges Simenon was a very prolific writer of the detective genre, most famous for his Maigret series (with well over a hundred books stretching from 1931 all the way to 1972!!). Maigret is basically a French response to detectives like Sherlock Holmes. Not as interested in physical evidence and the rational, he seeks to understand the characters behind the cases and their often tragic lives. Maigret has an aspect of humanism and warmth throughout the books, especially for those less fortunate in French society. His cases present an element of uncertainty that is natural when dealing with people and are thus much more realistic than Sherlock Holmes type stories (although less satisfying "logically").

This particular book describes Maigret's first case and the uncertainty element is already there. He gets a report of an incident and upon subsequent investigation does not even know if a crime has been committed. The household in question provides no answers - did someone get shot there on the night of the report and if so who and why? We also get to see Maigret's determination and use of psychology and understanding.

The Maigret novels may not be profound literature but they are extremely well written, compassionate and involving detective stories.

Several Maigret mysteries by Georges Simenon appeared a few years ago on PBS's Mystery. Played by Michael Gambon, the Paris detective seemed quirky and brilliant, sort of a mix between Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot, with a bit of heartlessness mixed in. This collection of stories featuring Maigret are delightful with a sort of gentleness that does not fit into today's world.

Taking place in the 1940s, the 17 stories bespeak of a time most of us are unfamiliar with, and a very French time at that. Maigret is very politically incorrect by today's standards. He smokes a pipe constantly (the theft of which is the subject of one of the stories). He isn't averse to hitting a suspect, or grilling another for half a day or more (as with the young woman from the Etoile du Nord). Murder is at the center of the cases, sometimes grisly (drowning, hanging, knifing), but never just blood and gore.

Maigret is moody and sometimes gets very angry. His ego can be bruised, as when his wife gets a bit ahead of him (in "Madame Maigret's Admirer)." Maigret might even rest in the victim's bed (Two Bodies on a Barge).

The collection includes a couple of novellas, but most are short stories and all are quickly read. You come away from Simenon's world feeling that if you were in trouble, you'd want Maigret on your side.

When Simenon was on, he was one of the greatest writers in the world. He could convey more pathos, psychological tension and mystery in his short, spare novels than most other writers could ever dream of.

This book focusses on a typical Simenon character - a man broken by the events of his life who is barely floating through whatever remains of his time on earth. A bizarre vision propels him to write a journal that is really a lengthy suicide note. What follows is the delicate and deliberate reconstruction of a man's life.

Poignant, disturbing, but never depressing. And highly recommended.

That is the cry when the condemned convict Joseph Huertin escapes from death row in a Parisian jail. Huertin had been tried and convicted of the brutal murder of a rich American widow and her maid. This escape would ordinarily be one for famed Inspector Maigret to investigate. However, it turns out that it was Maigret who placed the escape in motion. Maigret, who arrested Huertin in the first instance, has had doubts about his guilt. Huertin's mental skills are minimal but he didn't strike Maigret as someone, in the absence of any possible motive, who could plan and execute such a brutal pair of murders. Maigret has arranged for Huertin to escape in the hopes that Huertin will lead Maigret to the real killer.

For those not familiar with his work Georges Simenon was the author of over 100 Inspector Maigret mystery stories. They were immensely popular in the 1930s through the 1960s. Inspector Maigret stories also appeared in film and TV version. Simenon and Maigret seem to have fallen under the radar in recent decades but in recent years he seems to have been rediscovered by a new generation of mystery/detective story fans. Penguin Books has begun to reissue some of those Maigret mysteries and the New York Review of Books Press has reissued some of his `hard stories', stories that did not feature Inspector Maigret. Simenon's Inspector Maigret Mystery, "A Man's Head" was an exciting book that lived up to the expectations of its opening chapter.

"A Man's Head" does not stray from the 20th-century detective formula. There is a murder or series of murders, a number of possible suspects, and a detective or investigator tasked with putting the pieces together and solving the crime. So fans of the detective genre will find the form and structure of the book `comfortable'. In this instance, Maigret traipses around Paris and environs on Huertin's tail while finding clues and resisting pressure from the press and his superiors to solve the case quickly. The story line progresses rapidly (the book is relatively brief at 170 pages) until a final resolution has been reached.

What sets Simenon's Maigret stories apart from those of his contemporaries is the character of Maigret and down to earth settings of the stories. Maigret is not a character that is revealed to the reader immediately. Simenon doesn't set about to provide you with a character map to Maigret's personality in any one book. Rather, he grows on you over time. He has an innate disdain for higher authority that is appealing. Simenon's settings and other characters also add a dash to his Maigret mysteries. These are not parlor room mysteries where the reader has to determine which upper-class member of the gentry (or the butler) committed murder most foul in the library. Simenon's stories have the feel of grit and the demimonde about them that adds a bit of spice to the `formula'.

Simenon's Inspector Maigret mysteries are a treat to read and should be enjoyed by anyone who likes the detective genre. L. Fleisig

In None of Maigret's Business, Maigret finds himself beset with health problems and a recommendation from his doctor that he finally take a vacation. Maigret reluctantly agrees, but finds it hard to locate a place to take his vacation. Frustrated, he vows to simply stay home . . . but to avoid going to the office. Both the doctor and Mme. Maigret are skeptical.

At first, Maigret finds himself morosely watching trucks back out of the driveway across the street. But he bestirs himself to go out and buy the morning newspapers. Voila! There's been a high profile murder in the office of a society doctor . . . and two doctors are potentially involved. But, he restrains himself. Those in the office are hoping to show what they can do. But the subject's all the rage in Paris, filling both the newspapers and the sidewalk cafe conversations. Maigret steels himself to follow along through the newspapers and radio accounts.

Suddenly, his days are a little brighter. He decides to play the role of armchair private detective. Not surprisingly, he uses many of his usual techniques for learning about the case . . . such as visiting the scene of the crime. But he has to duck to avoid his colleagues who think he is at the beach.

Sometimes, he's a little annoyed with the lack of progress . . . and sends anonymous notes to his staff.

While the key suspect is being grilled in his very office, he camps out across the street to see when the light goes off. When the conversation seems to take too long, he gets on the telephone and asks a key question.

If you are a Maigret fan, you definitely will enjoy this story. It has a fine mystery (which you will probably figure out about half way through) and lots of fun as Maigret takes on an unaccustomed role of silent observer.

The main drawback of this audio is that Mr. Michael Prichard has a voice that does wear on one. The book called out for someone with a French accent and a sense of humor to read it.

If you have a five hour drive ahead of you, this is a winner.

Though I haven't yet read all of Simenon's (possibly) one million novels, I can say that November is arguably the best non-Maigret book that he wrote. Simenon was a master of small-scale drama, and this book is no exception. All he gives us is a house, a daughter, mother, father, son and a maid. Of course, it wouldn't be Simenon if both the son and father weren't sleeping with the maid, and everyone else in the house knew it. This, of course, makes for the creepiness. This book is a good 10 on the CreepOmeter. I highly recommend it.

Georges Simenon was prolific without ever being prolix. He wrote hundreds of novels, most notably his Inspector Maigret mysteries. But some of Simenon's best work in my opinion can be found in what he called his "romans durs" ("hard stories"). In those stores you typically find a middle-aged male, leading a middle class life or a petty criminal living life on the edge of society. In each story the protagonist hits a bump in the road (often of his own making) and this slight bump takes him off his normal life path and puts him on a wild downhill road to the depths of darkness.

Simenon's Maigret stories and romans durs are enjoying something of a new life with new issuances by Penguin (Maigret) and New York Review of Books Press (romans durs). However, many more remain to be reissued and I've read all the reissued Simenons. As a result, on a recent trip to my public library I couldn't resist picking up two `older' Simenons, "The Outlaw" and The Rules of the Game that have not yet found their way into a new edition. "The Outlaw" is a good example of Simenon's hard story format and is well worth reading.

Stanislas Sadlak, (Stan), is an illegal immigrant from Poland living in Paris in the late 1930s. He has fled Poland rather than face criminal charges for murder. He is not a likeable character at all and as the book opens he and his girl-friend Nuschi are down and out and on the edge of starvation. Stan botches an attempt to rob a taxi driver and in desperation reaches out to the Paris police. He offers to rat out a violent gang of Polish criminals living in Paris in return for enough cash to get him and Nuschi back on their feet again. After this `introduction' Simenon takes us on the rough bumpy ride that flows from Stan's decision to turn informer.

There is a lot to like about "The Outlaw". Simenon does a very good job of portraying Stan as a very unsympathetic character. Nothing that has ever happened to Stan has been his fault. Nothing. In fact, none of the characters in the book, even the police, have much in the way of redeeming or appealing character traits. Simenon is not one for false empathy or redeemed criminals. Life is tough in the demimonde and so are the villains and the police that go after them. There is no one to root for and, so, the reader is left with nothing but the story. But in the hands of Simenon the story is more than enough. As I mentioned at the outset, Simenon was prolific. However, the writing in each of his books is sparse and free of adornment. The story begins, it moves quickly, and it ends. If you are looking for tortured, complex sentences and deep musings on the meaning of life, Simenon is probably not for you. He tells a story and leaves the musings to the reader, not his characters. The story was enough and it was both satisfying and absorbing.

I'd recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Simenon or just an interest in good, dark stories. L. Fleisig

Georges Simenon was nothing if not prolific in both his literary and public life. Born in Belgium in 1903, Simenon turned out hundreds of novels. Simenon's obsession with writing caused him to break off an affair (he was prolific in this area of his life as well) with the celebrated Josephine Baker in Paris when he could only write twelve novels in the twelve month period in which they were involved. Simenon's novels were immensely popular in the 1930s through the 1970s and many of his novels (particularly the Inspector Maigret stories) appeared in film and TV versions. Simenon also authored dozens of books that he described as "romans durs", roughly translated as`hard stories' that had a darker tone than his Maigret novels. Simenon seems to have fallen under the radar in recent decades but in recent years he seems to have been rediscovered by a new generation of mystery/detective story fans. Penguin Books has begun to reissue some of those Maigret mysteries and the New York Review of Books Press has reissued some of his `hard stories'. However, my appetite for Simenon has caused me to look beyond the recent reissues. A recent trip to my public library brought me to "The Rules of the Game".

"The Rules of the Game" was written in 1955 and translated and published in the United States in 1988. It is set in suburban Connecticut. (After World War II, for reasons related to accusations that he was sympathetic to the occupying forces and the Vichy Regime, Simenon moved to the United States and spent a few years in Connecticut.) Walter Higgins is a supermarket manager. He is a stolid, predictable, married father of four living in a house that stretches his economic resources to the fullest. He is also enormously (and understandably) proud of the fact that he has lifted himself through diligence and hard work from a less than happy and economically depressed childhood. He plays by the rules. He goes to church and volunteers in any number of community organizations. He seeks affirmation of his status by applying for membership in the local country club. He is told his membership is a sure-thing and is devastated when he is told that he has been blackballed, denied entry by means of a secret vote of the club's membership committee. Each member of that committee was known to Higgins and he thought of each as a friend and colleague in the community. The rejection turns Higgins's life upside down and the rest of the story takes us on the journey Higgins takes as the trauma of rejection hits him.

"Rules of the Game" provides a fascinating, contemporary look at life in the U.S. of the 1950s. Since it was written in 1955, Simenon's examination of the hidden cracks in the life-style of suburban America in the age of Ozzie and Harriet seems a bit ahead of its time. In a way, Simenon's look at the unraveling of Higgins life after the jolt of rejection is mildly reminiscent to the unraveling of Willy Loman's life in Miller's "Death of a Salesman". Higgins' reaction to `failure' (in his eyes) is not nearly as dramatic as Loman's but it does provide some warning that the American Dream does have cracks that even the most stolid members of its society can fall through.

"Rules of the Game" is a good example of the craft of Simenon. It is certainly worth reading if you can find a copy online or in your local library. My library has a nice collection of out-of-print Simenon's and I'll be back there soon for another Simenon. L. Fleisig

Every once and a while, a treasure awaits among the dusty remaindered volumes that sit neglected outside bookstores. Who could imagine that $2.99 could yield so many hours of pleasure? This excellent book follows the remarkable life of one the 20th century's most prodigious writers, Georges Simenon -- author of almost 400 novels. His office was a "factory" -- where he would often produce a novel within two weeks. One day for thinking and taking notes. Then he would obsessively sharpen a box of pencils, fill up a series of pipes (so as to waste no time) and sit down each day and write one chapter -- spending one final day for corrections and proofreading. But what is most remarkable about Simonon was a jewel-like qualities of each book, filled with brooding atmosphere, perfect characterizations, and authentic dialogues that were impossible to imitate. Simenon is often remembered for his detective stories featuring Jules Maigret, but his many other excellent books show a scope of range and topic that made the Belgian writer one of the most widely translated authors of the French language. Even more interesting than his books was Simenon himself -- a tireless self-promoter who once signed a contract (never executed) to write a two-week novel in a glass box on the Champs Elysees -- each page handed to a messenger so that it could be instantly translated into newsprint for his hungry audience. He almost married the legendary black dancer from America, Josephine Baker -- was close friends with Henry Miller, Coulette and Charlie Chaplain -- and boasted that he had made love to thousands of women. He traveled widely but his neighbors were often horrified to find their own private lives incorporated into the novels that churned out of his relentless typewriter. It was inevitable that he would suffer personal torment to generate such a vast body of work, but no matter -- it was worth it. If you have any doubts, take a few hours to read what was arguably his finest book -- "The Little Saint." -- JD

The prolific Georges Simenon wrote a number of roman durs, or hard novels, which have more of a noir edge to them than his traditional mysteries. TROPIC MOON is a good introduction to them as we follow young Joseph Timar to Africa. In search of job experience and maybe a bit of adventure, he quickly finds himself in way too deep. He almost immediately sleeps with the hotel owner's wife, the morally ambiguous Adele, and quickly thereafter finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation in which everyone else seems to know what is going on while leaving him in the blank.

TROPIC MOON, however, is more than just a crime novel. It is a raw depiction of conflict. After learning, in a rather cold and even humiliating way, that Adele has slept with almost every male character in the book, Timar becomes more and more obsessed with her, especially driven as she appears to be somehow implicated in the murder. Adele walks the tightrope of trying to draw Timar closer personally while seeming to protect him from the dark underbelly of the conspiracy.

This drama is set against the larger picture of colonial Africa, in which whites and blacks live in two different realities. It is a world of moral confusion and comes to the foreground as the details of Adele's involvement become more and more focused. The ending, although a bit weak, leaves Timar in the same state of confusion as the African continent on which the action unfolds. TROPIC MOON is a quick and worthwhile read.