I have continued to work my way through Georges Simenon's Maigret books, and to date I have read the books shown in bold:
The most interesting of the recent books that I have read was MAIGRET’S MEMOIRE. It tells the story of the relationship between a young Belgian author called Georges Sim (who is later revealed to be Georges Simenon) and Chief Inspector Jules Maigret. They are introduced to each other by Maigret’s boss, the head of the Police Judiciare, when the author wants to write about the more unusual crimes that Maigret works on. He follows Maigret around, listening to and watching him whilst he works. Over the years, the two become friends.
In his memoir, the ‘real’ Maigret tries to correct some of the inconsistencies told in the stories about the ‘fictional’ Maigret and his team. For example, in some of the stories the ‘fictional’ Maigret wears a bowler hat, but this disappears in later ones ... and the ‘real’ Maigret explains why. Likewise, the ‘real’ Maigret explains that Simenon used a limited number of ‘real’ names for the Inspectors who worked for the ‘fictional’ Maigret, and this is why some of them seem to change during the course of the stories. In particular, Inspector Torrence is killed in PIETR THE LATVIAN ... and then reappears in later stories.
The ‘real’ Maigret also explains that Simenon did not always retell the stories in the correct chronological order, and that real names and locations were changed for the purpose of the storytelling process.
In fact, the whole book is a wonderful artifice by Georges Simenon to explain away the inconsistencies in the Maigret books ... and it is extremely enjoyable to read. It also tells how Maigret met his wife Louise ... or as she is usually just referred to, Madam Maigret.
- Pietr the Latvian
- The Late Monsieur Gallet
- The Hanged Man of Saint-Pholien
- The Carter of La Providence
- The Yellow Dog
- Night at the Crossroads
- A Crime in Holland
- The Grand Banks Cafe
- A Man's Head
- The Dancer at the Gai Moulin
- The Two-Penny Bar
- The Shadow Puppet
- The Saint-Fiacre Affair
- The Flemish House
- The Madman of Bergerac
- The Misty Harbour
- Liberty Bar
- Lock No. 1
- Maigret
- Cecile is Dead
- The Cellars of the Majestic
- The Judge's House
- Signed, Picpus
- Inspector Cadaver
- Félicie
- Maigret Gets Angry
- Maigret in New York
- Maigret's Holiday
- Maigret's Dead Man
- Maigret's First Case
- My Friend Maigret
- Maigret at the Coroner's
- Maigret and the Old Lady
- Madame Maigret's Friend
- Maigret's Memoirs
- Maigret at Picratt's
- Maigret Takes a Room
- Maigret and the Tall Woman
- Maigret, Lognon and the Gangsters
- Maigret's Revolver
- Maigret and the Man on the Bench
- Maigret is Afraid
- Maigret's Mistake
- Maigret Goes to School
- Maigret and the Dead Girl
- Maigret and the Minister
- Maigret and the Headless Corpse
- Maigret Sets a Trap
- Maigret's Failure
- Maigret Enjoys Himself
- Maigret Travels
- Maigret's Doubts
- Maigret and the Reluctant Witnesses
- Maigret's Secret
- Maigret in Court
- Maigret and the Old People
- Maigret and the Lazy Burglar
- Maigret and the Good People of Montparnasse
- Maigret and the Saturday Caller
- Maigret and the Tramp
- Maigret's Anger
- Maigret and the Ghost
- Maigret Defends Himself
- Maigret's Patience
- Maigret and the Nahour Case
- Maigret's Pickpocket
- Maigret Hesitates
- Maigret in Vichy
- Maigret's Childhood Friend
- Maigret and the Killer
- Maigret and the Wine Merchant
- Maigret's Madwoman
- Maigret and the Loner
- Maigret and the Informer
- Maigret and Monsieur Charles
- Maigret's Pipe
- Maigret's Christmas
- Seven Little Crosses in a Notebook
- The Little Restaurant in Les Ternes
The most interesting of the recent books that I have read was MAIGRET’S MEMOIRE. It tells the story of the relationship between a young Belgian author called Georges Sim (who is later revealed to be Georges Simenon) and Chief Inspector Jules Maigret. They are introduced to each other by Maigret’s boss, the head of the Police Judiciare, when the author wants to write about the more unusual crimes that Maigret works on. He follows Maigret around, listening to and watching him whilst he works. Over the years, the two become friends.
In his memoir, the ‘real’ Maigret tries to correct some of the inconsistencies told in the stories about the ‘fictional’ Maigret and his team. For example, in some of the stories the ‘fictional’ Maigret wears a bowler hat, but this disappears in later ones ... and the ‘real’ Maigret explains why. Likewise, the ‘real’ Maigret explains that Simenon used a limited number of ‘real’ names for the Inspectors who worked for the ‘fictional’ Maigret, and this is why some of them seem to change during the course of the stories. In particular, Inspector Torrence is killed in PIETR THE LATVIAN ... and then reappears in later stories.
The ‘real’ Maigret also explains that Simenon did not always retell the stories in the correct chronological order, and that real names and locations were changed for the purpose of the storytelling process.
In fact, the whole book is a wonderful artifice by Georges Simenon to explain away the inconsistencies in the Maigret books ... and it is extremely enjoyable to read. It also tells how Maigret met his wife Louise ... or as she is usually just referred to, Madam Maigret.
This is quite a project! Sorry if I have missed an earlier explanation, but can I assume the list is in order of publication date? And would you recommend starting at the top, to follow their development? Are they more or less 'chronological' in terms of Maigret's career? But most likely it doesn't matter! I have read precisely one - 'Maigret's Holiday', which I found in the 10p rack in a charity shop!
ReplyDeleteDavid in Suffolk,
DeleteIt is something that I always promised myself that I would do ... and the lockdown provided a perfect opportunity to do it.
The books are listed in publication order ... which is not in chronological order with regard to Maigret’s career. My personal feeling is that it doesn’t matter where you start in the series as they all differ from each other in style and complexity ... which is one of the joys of reading this series of books.
All the best,
Bob
In a similar vein I have re read the Bernie Gunther series by the late Philip Kerr and I can highly recommend them. I recently read Piotr the Latvian and thoroughly enjoyed it. I may follow your example and continue with the series.
ReplyDeleteTake Care, Tony Jones.
Toby Jones,
DeleteOver the years I’ve read much of the output of quite a few authors, including John Le Carre, Martin Cruz Smith, Boris Akunin, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, John Buchan, and Agatha Christie ... to name but a few.
I’ve not - however - read any of a Philip Kerr’s books ... yet! Having looked at a list of his output, I think that I might enjoy them.
All the best,
Bob
I think you would, the setting runs from the late '20s to the late '50s (not necessarily in that order) and are a fairly well researched blend of fact and fiction. Bernie himself comes across as a Berlin based Sam Spade.
DeleteTake Care, Tony Jones.
Toby Jones,
DeleteI’ve added him to my list of authors whose books I want to read!
Many thanks for the recommendation.
All the best,
Bob