If only Georges Simenon had been a bit more like Maigret
spectator.co.uk
If only Georges Simenon had been a bit more like Maigret
1–10 of 33 posts
Re: If only Georges Simenon had been a bit more like Maigret
#2That's an ad for the new release of the translations, imitating an article. Read Monsieur Monde Vanishes instead if you want to read some Simenon, it's a better book.
Re: If only Georges Simenon had been a bit more like Maigret
#3Judging people from a different culture and age by the contemporary mores. Does one need to know what Simenon got up to in the bedroom department in order to appricate a detective novel?
Re: If only Georges Simenon had been a bit more like Maigret
#4I read mostly non fiction but mystery novels are the one fiction genre I never mind reading. I read it like a (roundabout) lesson on the character of a time and place. I'd previously read London's Sherlock, Belgium's Poirot (written by the English Agatha Christie), LA's Philip Marlowe and France's Lupin (good reads, but the translations are poor quality).
I picked up Pietr the Latvian recently in a search for more Continental novels in the 18th and 19th century. I've started another Maigret novel since. Georges Simenon is a pretty incredible author given his serial output. Likewise the translators mentioned in the article did excellent work. I highly recommend these translated Maigret novels for both the plot and the wordsmithing.
Re: If only Georges Simenon had been a bit more like Maigret
#5That's an ad for the new release of the translations, imitating an article. Read Monsieur Monde Vanishes instead if you want to read some Simenon, it's a better book.
The new translations are indeed mentioned in passing, but the piece is a good introduction for people who don't know the author.
Re: If only Georges Simenon had been a bit more like Maigret
#6That's an ad for the new release of the translations, imitating an article. Read Monsieur Monde Vanishes instead if you want to read some Simenon, it's a better book.
The new translations are indeed mentioned in passing, but the piece is a good introduction for people who don't know the author.
Quite. I suspect many, like myself, mainly know Maigret from the television series starring Rowan Atkinson (yes!).
Re: If only Georges Simenon had been a bit more like Maigret
#7Maigret is much better in French. For such kind of "cheap" unpretentious books, the author is pretty astute and solid building the narrative. There is a lot of "European soul" and specially "French soul" distilled in the books.
Re: If only Georges Simenon had been a bit more like Maigret
#8I read mostly non fiction but mystery novels are the one fiction genre I never mind reading. I read it like a (roundabout) lesson on the character of a time and place. I'd previously read London's Sherlock, Belgium's Poirot (written by the English Agatha Christie), LA's Philip Marlowe and France's Lupin (good reads, but the translations are poor quality). I picked up Pietr the Latvian recently in a search for more Co…
I would recommend you the yellow dog, the first part specially is pretty good creating an atmosphere of mistery and danger. They aren't horror stories in any case. Is more about building characters and creating a good sense of inmersion in the landscape and history.
Re: If only Georges Simenon had been a bit more like Maigret
#9I read mostly non fiction but mystery novels are the one fiction genre I never mind reading. I read it like a (roundabout) lesson on the character of a time and place. I'd previously read London's Sherlock, Belgium's Poirot (written by the English Agatha Christie), LA's Philip Marlowe and France's Lupin (good reads, but the translations are poor quality). I picked up Pietr the Latvian recently in a search for more Co…
Have you read Léo Malet [1]? His Nestor Burma novels, set around WW2, are great. Dark and somewhat cynical, they go deep into pre- and post-war France. "120 Rue de la Gare" is one of my favourites.
The great illustrator Jacques Tardi has also adapted many of his novels. The adaptations are great, with Tardi's famous expressionist style bringing something completely new to the stories.
Re: If only Georges Simenon had been a bit more like Maigret
#10I read mostly non fiction but mystery novels are the one fiction genre I never mind reading. I read it like a (roundabout) lesson on the character of a time and place. I'd previously read London's Sherlock, Belgium's Poirot (written by the English Agatha Christie), LA's Philip Marlowe and France's Lupin (good reads, but the translations are poor quality). I picked up Pietr the Latvian recently in a search for more Co…
Have you read Léo Malet [1]? His Nestor Burma novels, set around WW2, are great. Dark and somewhat cynical, they go deep into pre- and post-war France. "120 Rue de la Gare" is one of my favourites. The great illustrator Jacques Tardi has also adapted many of his novels. The adaptations are great, with Tardi's famous expressionist style bringing something completely new to the stories. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wik…
I haven't. Thanks for the rec!