Simenon biography

Belgian writer (1903–1989)

"Simenon" redirects current. For other uses, see Author (disambiguation).

Georges Simenon
Simenon advocate 1963
Born	Georges Joseph Christian Simenon (1903-02-12)12 Feb 1903 or (1903-02-13)13 February 1903 Liège, Wallonia, Belgium
Died	4 September 1989(1989-09-04) (aged 86) Lausanne, Romandy, Switzerland
Pen name	G. Sim, Man Le Coq
Occupation	Novelist
Language	French
Nationality	Belgian
Alma mater	Collège Saint-Louis, Liège
Years active	1919–1981
Notable awards	Académie royale de Belgique (1952)

Georges Patriarch Christian Simenon (French:[ʒɔʁʒsimnɔ̃]; 12/13 Feb 1903 – 4 September 1989) was a Belgian writer, almost famous for his fictional investigator Jules Maigret.

One of loftiness most popular authors of primacy 20th century, he published move around 400 novels (including 192 covered by his own name), 21 volumes of memoirs and many slight stories, selling over 500 packet copies.

Apart from his tec fiction, he achieved critical hail for his literary novels, which he called romans durs (hard novels).

Among his literary admirers were Max Jacob, François Writer and André Gide. Gide wrote, “I consider Simenon a cumulative novelist, perhaps the greatest, ground the most genuine novelist focus we have had in coexistent French literature.”^[1]

Born and raised deduct Liège, Belgium, Simenon lived care for extended periods in France (1922–1945), the United States (1946–1955) sit finally Switzerland (1957–1989).

Much more than a few his work is semi-autobiographical, divine by his childhood and boyhood in Liège, extensive travels effect Europe and the world, wartime experiences, troubled marriages, and plentiful love affairs.

Critics such style John Banville have praised Simenon's novels for their psychological insights and vivid evocation of in the house and place.

Among his ultimate notable works are The Saint-Fiacre Affair (1932), Monsieur Hire's Engagement (1933), Act of Passion (1947), The Snow was Dirty (1948) and The Cat (1967).

Early life and education

Simenon was natal at 26 Rue Léopold (Liège) (now number 24) to Désiré Simenon and his wife Henriette Brüll.

Désiré Simenon worked dynasty an accounting office at implication insurance company and had spliced Henriette in April 1902. Author was born either at 11.30 pm on Thursday 12 Feb 1903 (according to the foundation certificate) or just after dead of night on Friday 13th (the out of use possibly being falsified on primacy certificate due to superstition).^[2]

The Author family was of Walloon subject Flemish ancestry, settling in interpretation Belgian Limburg in the ordinal century.^[3] His mother's family was of Flemish, Dutch and Teutonic descent.

One of his mother's most notorious ancestors was Archangel Brühl, a criminal who preyed on Limburg from the 1720s until he was hanged deception 1743.^[3] Later Simenon would active Brühl as one of surmount many pen names.^[4]

In April 1905, two years after Simenon's confinement, the family moved to 3 rue Pasteur (now 25 clean Georges Simenon) in Liège's Outremeuse [fr] neighbourhood.

Simenon's brother Christian was born in September 1906 famous eventually became their mother's esteemed child, which Simenon resented.^[5] Birth young Simenon, however, idolised authority father and later claimed be bounded by have partly modelled Maigret's complexion on him.^[6]

At the age brake three, Simenon learned to look over at the Ecole Guardienne go briskly by the Sisters of Notre Dame.

Then, between 1908 turf 1914, he attended the Institut Saint-André, run by the Christly Brothers.^[7]

In 1911 the Simenons spurious to 53 rue de indifferent Loi, where they took essential lodgers, many of them session from Eastern Europe, Jews topmost political refugees.^[8] This gave prestige young Simenon an introduction tolerate the wider world, which was later reflected his novels, exceptionally Pedigree (published 1948) and Le Locataire (The Lodger) (1938).

Following the outbreak of the Lid World War in August 1914, Liège was occupied by glory German army. Henriette took play a part German officers as lodgers, unnecessary to Désiré's disapproval. Simenon succeeding said that the war epoch provided some of the happiest times of his life. They were also memorable for capital child because "my father cheated, my mother cheated, everyone cheated."^[9]

In October 1914 Simenon began wreath studies at the Collège Saint-Louis, a Jesuit high school.

Puzzle out a year he switched compel to Collège St Servais, where perform studied for three years. Stylishness excelled at French, but culminate marks in other subjects declined. He read widely in say publicly Russian, French and English liberal arts, frequently played truant, and mephitic to petty theft in instability to buy pastries and succeeding additional war-time luxuries.^[10]

In 1917 the Author family moved to a past post-office building in the bewail des Maraîchers.^[11] Using his father's heart condition as a pretence, Simenon left school in June 1918 without taking his end-of-year exams.^[12] After brief periods crucial in a pâtisserie and swell bookshop, Simenon found himself disengaged when the war ended load November 1918.

He witnessed scenes of violent retribution against citizenry of Liège accused of alliance, which stayed with him back the rest of his be in motion. He described these scenes delicate Pedigree and Les trois crimes de mes amis (My Friends' Three Crimes) (1938).^[13]

Early career, 1919–1922

In January 1919 the 15-year-old Author took a job as undiluted junior reporter at the Gazette de Liège, a right-wing Come to an end newspaper edited by Joseph Demarteau.^[14] Within a few months inaccuracy was promoted to crime flyer, signing his articles "Georges Sim".

By April he was subject his own opinion and tittletattle column, which he signed "Monsieur Le Coq". He was along with assigned interviews with leading ecumenical figures such as Hirohito, Envelop Prince of Japan, and Sculpturer war hero Marshal Foch. Grasp 1920-21 he enrolled on keen course in forensic science imitate the University of Liège instruct in order to improve his discernment of the latest police methods.^[15]

In May 1920 Simenon began pronunciamento short fiction in the Gazette.

In September he completed government first novel, Au Pont nonsteroid Arches, which he self-published encompass 1921.^[16] He wrote two second 1 novels while working at grandeur Gazette, but these were not in any degree published.^[17]

In June 1919 Simenon esoteric been introduced into a division of young artists and bohemians that called itself "Le Caque" (herring barrel).

The group fall over at night to drink, converse art and philosophy, and trial with drugs such as analgesic and cocaine. In early 1922 one of the members firm footing the group, Joseph Kleine, uniform himself at the doors be beaten the St Pholien church observe Liège after a night admit excess with Le Caque. Author was one of the surname people to see Kleine living and was deeply affected by virtue of his suicide, later referring endorse the incident in Les trois crimes de mes amis courier Le pendu de St Pholien (The Hanged Man of Ideal Pholien) (1931).^[18]

Through Le Caque, Writer met a young painter, Régine Renchon, and in early 1921 they began a relationship.

They soon became engaged and intercontinental that Simenon should complete her majesty year of compulsory military inhabit before they married.^[19]

Simenon's father monotonous in November 1921, an reason that Simenon called "the swell important day in a man's life." Soon after, he began his military service.

After simple brief posting with the leagued occupation forces in Germany, without fear was transferred to the soldiery barracks in Liège and was soon given permission to carry on writing for the Gazette.^[20]

When Simenon's military service ended in Dec 1922, he resigned from righteousness Gazette and moved to Town to establish a base awaken himself and his future old woman, Régine, whom he preferred undertake call Tigy.^[21]

France, 1922–1945

Literary apprenticeship, 1922–1928

Now in Paris, Simenon found smart menial job with a reactionist political group headed by high-mindedness writer Binet-Valmer.

In March 1923 he returned to Liège detonation marry Régine. Although neither Writer nor Régine were religious, they were married in a Grand church to please Simenon's who was devout.^[22]

The newly-weds gripped to Paris where Régine exhausted to establish herself as neat as a pin painter while Simenon resumed make a hole for Binet-Valmer and sent entitle to the Revue Sincère receive Brussels for which he was the Paris correspondent.

He additionally wrote short stories for in favour magazines, but sales were sporadic.^[23]

In the summer of 1923, Author was engaged by the Marquess de Tracy as his undisclosed secretary, which obliged him telling off spend nine months of prestige year at the aristocrat's many rural properties.

Régine soon bogus to a village near loftiness Marquis's principal estate at Paray-le-Frésil, near Moulins.^[24]

While working for primacy Marquis, Simenon began submitting make-believe to Le Matin whose literate editor was Colette. Colette consider him to make his disused "less literary" which Simenon took to mean that he be compelled use simple descriptions and practised limited stock of common cruel.

Simenon followed her advice arena within a year became call of the paper's regular contributors.^[25]

Now with a steady income expend his writing, Simenon left leadership Marquis' employ in 1924 good turn returned to Paris where fiasco and Régine found an suite in the fashionable Place nonsteroidal Vosges. Simenon was writing extort selling short stories at say publicly rate of 80 typed pages a day, and now low his hand to pulp novels.

His first, Le roman d'une dactylo (The Story of spick Typist) was quickly sold extort two more appeared in 1924 under the pseudonyms "Jean defence Perry" and "Georges Simm".^[26] Pass up 1921 to 1934 he tatty a total of 17 turn down names while writing 358 novels and short stories.^[27]

In the summertime of 1925, the Simenons took a holiday in Normandy place they met Henriette Liberge, influence 18-year-old daughter of a fisher.

Régine offered her a livelihood as their housekeeper in Town and the young woman common. Simenon began calling her "Boule", and she was to get his lover and part blond the Simenon household under avoid name for the next 39 years.^[28]

Simenon began an affair add together Josephine Baker in 1926 blunder 1927, and became her unconventional assistant and editor of Josephine Baker's Magazine.^[29] However, the Simenons were tiring of their agitated life in Paris, and pretend April 1928 they set air strike with Boule for a six-month tour of the rivers point of view canals of France in precise small boat, the Ginette.

Out the distractions provided by Josephine Baker, Simenon's tally of available popular novels increased from 11 in 1927 to 44 boring 1928.^[30]

Birth and retirement of Maigret, 1929–1939

In the spring round 1929, the Simenons and Embellishment set off for a journey of northern France, Belgium title Holland in a larger, custom-made boat, the Ostrogoth.

Simenon difficult begun contributing detective stories agree a new magazine called Détective and continued to publish approved novels, mainly with the publishers Fayard.^[31]

During his northern tour, Author wrote three popular novels featuring a police inspector named Maigret, but only one, Train placate nuit (Night Train) was popular by Fayard.

Simenon began place on the latter novel (or possibly its successor Pietr-le-Letton (Pietr the Latvian)) in September 1929 when the Ostrogoth was undergoing repairs in the Dutch skill of Delfzijl, and the entitlement is now celebrated as prestige birthplace of Simenon's most eminent character.^[32][33]

On his return to Town in April 1930, Simenon organized Pietr-le-Letton, the first novel principal which commissioner Maigret of character Paris mobile crime brigade was a fully developed character.

Justness novel was serialised in Fayard's magazine Ric et Rac after that year, and was greatness first fictional work to spread under Simenon's real name.^[34][33]

The culminating Maigret novels were launched in good health book form by Fayard derive February 1931 at the ornamented dress bal anthropométrique which locked away a police and criminals tip.

The launching party was wide reported and the novels normal positive reviews. Simenon wrote 19 Maigret novels by the declare of 1933, and the array eventually sold 500 million copies.^[35]

In April 1932, the Simenons crucial Boule moved to La Rochelle in south-west France. Soon back end, they left for Africa circle Simenon visited his brother, who was a colonial administrator interpolate the Belgian Congo.

Simenon too visited other African colonies obscure wrote a series of arrange highly critical of colonialism. Without fear drew on his African turn your back on in novels such as LeCoup de Lune (Tropic Moon) (1933) and 45⁰ à l'ombre (Aboard the Aquitaine) (1936).^[36]

In 1933, picture Simenons visited Germany and Easterly Europe, and Simenon secured exceeding interview with Leon Trotsky train in exile in Turkey for Paris-Soir.

On his return, he declared that he would write inept more Maigret novels, and undiluted a contract with the celebrated publisher Gallimard for his newborn work.^[37]

Maigret, written in June 1933, was intended to be primacy last of the series endure ended with the detective pen retirement. Simenon called the Maigret novels "semi-literary" and he loved to establish himself as unadulterated serious writer.

He stated sovereign aim was to win probity Nobel Prize for Literature contempt 1947.^[38]

Simenon's notable novels of decency 1930s, written after the conditional retirement of Maigret, include Le testament Donadieu (The Shadow Falls) (1937), L'homme qui regardait pedestrian les trains (The Man who Watched the Trains Go By) (1938) and Le bourgmestre move quietly Furnes (The Burgomaster of Furnes) (1939).^[39]André Gide and François Writer were among Simenon's greatest learned admirers at the time.^[40]

In 1935, the Simenons undertook a faux tour which included the Americas, the Galapagos Islands, Tahiti, Land and India.^[41] They then prudent back to Paris, to prestige fashionable Neuilly district, where they lived a life of splendour that Simenon later described makeover "too sumptuous".^[42]

They moved home convey La Rochelle in 1938 owing to, as Simenon later explained, "I was sickened by the continuance I was leading." In Apr the following year Simenon's supreme child, Marc, was born.^[43]

Second Field War, 1939–1945

Simenon was in precise café in La Rochelle what because France declared war on Deutschland on 3 September 1939.^[43] Tier May 1940, Germany invaded Belgique, and La Rochelle became nobility reception centre for Belgian refugees.

The Belgian government appointed Author Commissioner for Refugees, and let go organised the reception, accommodation, be proof against food and health needs idea some 55,000 war refugees earlier the armistice of 22 June. By August, all Belgian refugees had been repatriated and Writer resumed civilian life in authority new home at Fontenay-le-Compte response the Vendée.^[44]

Later in 1940, clean local doctor examined Simenon boss diagnosed a serious heart ailment, advising him to cut astonishment on his favourite pastimes capture pipe smoking, excessive eating, quaff, and sex.

Simenon began valid on his memoirs Je surmise souviens (I remember), intended primate a letter to his neonate from a father who would soon be dead. A in no time at all medical opinion was later soughtafter, and Simenon was assured queen heart was sound.^[45]

Simenon returned lying on writing Maigret stories and novels, completing two in 1940 skull three in 1941.

He too wrote longer novels such laugh Pedigree, a fictionalised reworking round Je me souviens. As practised popular, non-Jewish author who unattractive war themes and anti-German sensitivity, Simenon had few problems come by having his works published disagree a time of censorship coupled with paper restrictions.^[46]

Among his major productions written during the war period are La veuve Couderc (The Widow Couderc) (1942), Le fuite de M.

Monde (Monsieur Monde Vanishes) (published 1945), and Pedigree (published 1948).^[47] Simenon also conducted correspondence, most notably with André Gide. Gide considered La veuve Couderc superior to Camus'The Stranger which was published around rectitude same time and has wonderful similar main character and themes.^[48][49]

During the war, Simenon sold interpretation film rights to five observe his novels to Continental Pictures, which was funded by leadership German government and banned leadership participation of Jews.

The Transcontinental production of Simenon's Les inconnus dans la maison (Strangers border line the House) had exaggerated anti-Semitic themes which are not locked in the novel. Resistance underground newspapers began attacking Continental Films current anyone who took their money.^[50]

In 1942, the French Commissariat-Géneral aux Questions Juives notified Simenon consider it they suspected him of utilize Jewish and gave him flavour month to prove he wasn't.

Simenon was able to take the necessary certificates of outset and baptism through his popular, and soon after the Simenons moved to a more far village in the Vendée.^[51]

In 1944, Régine discovered Simenon's long-term trouble with Boule, and Simenon besides confessed to his numerous spanking affairs.

The couple agreed cut into remain married for the welfare of their child, but designate give each other their coital freedom.^[52]

In November 1944, following rendering German retreat, Simenon, Marc esoteric Boule moved to a hostelry in the resort town assiduousness Les Sables d'Olonne, while Régine returned to their house obstruct La Rochelle which had immediately been evacuated by the Germans.

In January 1945, Simenon was placed under house arrest soak the police and the Land Forces of the Interior walk out suspicion of collaboration. After one months of investigations, he was cleared of all charges.^[53]

Simenon went to Paris in May 1945 while Marc and Boule mutual to their house near Flu Rochelle with Régine.

Simenon, god willing out of concern that grandeur French Communist Party might call over France, had decided finish move to America. The associated of the family soon married him in Paris and Writer used his contacts to cluster the required travel documents bring America. Régine, however, refused cluster travel to America with Marc unless Boule stayed behind be next to France.

Simenon reluctantly agreed peel Régine's demand.^[54]

United States and Canada, 1945–1955

The Simenons arrived in Latest York in October 1945 at an earlier time soon moved to Canada, vicinity they set up home socialize with Ste-Marguerite du Lac Masson, polar of Montreal.^[55] In November, Author met Denyse Ouimet, a 25-year-old French-Canadian, with whom he in operation an affair and hired variety his secretary.

Denyse moved perform the Simenon home in Jan 1946,^[56] and several weeks afterward told Régine that she was his new lover.^[57] Simenon fictionalised his affair with Denyse expect his novels Trois chambres à Manhattan (Three Bedrooms in Manhattan) (1947) and Lettre à preceding juge (Act of Passion) (1947).^[56]

The Simenons and Denyse drove be acquainted with Florida in the summer indicate 1946, and then visited Island in order to arrange dispense permanent residence visas for grandeur United States.

It was snare Florida that Simenon wrote Lettre à mon juge, widely deemed one of his major works.^[58]

In June 1947, the Simenons bogus to Arizona. Boule joined them there in 1948, after Régine dropped her objections to Simenon's desire to have a bride and two lovers in ruler household. Simenon continued to draw up quickly, working from 6 frustrate to 9 am daily, champion averaging 4,500 words a fair.

While in Arizona, Simenon wrote two Maigret novels and a few romans durs (hard novels) as well as La neige était sale (The Snow Was Dirty) (1948), solve of his major works.^[59] Greatness 1951 American paperback edition censure this novel sold 2 jillion copies.^[60]

Denyse became pregnant in initially 1949, and Simenon asked Régine for a divorce.

Denyse gave birth to Jean Dennis Chrétien Simenon (known as John) form 29 September.^[61] Régine had stirred to California with Marc post Boule, and Simenon, Denyse illustrious the baby soon moved indifference Carmel-by-the-Sea where they would suit close to Marc. The separation was granted in Nevada t-junction 21 June 1950.

Simenon marital Denyse the following day.^[62]

The newly-weds moved to Lakeville, Connecticut stomach also rented a house seep in nearby Salmon Creek for Régine, Marc and Boule. In birth five years he lived dense Connecticut, Simenon wrote 13 Maigret novels and 14 romans durs including the major works La mort de Belle (Belle) (1952) and L'horloger d'Everton (The Maker of Everton) (1954).^[63]

While living train in Connecticut, Simenon's book sales augmented to an estimated 3 mint a year, and he was elected president of the Confidentiality Writers of America.

Simenon enthralled Denyse made two trips itch Europe, in 1952 and 1954. On the 1952 trip, Writer was admitted to the Queenly Belgian Academy.^[64] In February 1953, Denyse gave birth to spick daughter, Marie-Georges Simenon (known since Marie-Jo).^[65] By this time, Embellishment had moved in with Denyse and Simenon and had resumed her position as his lover.^[66]

By 1955, Simenon had become worn down with America and concerned ditch Denyse, who wanted to be there in Europe, was becoming supplementary distant from him.

In Amble, Simenon, Denyse and Boule incomplete for a European holiday deliver were never to return earn live in America.^[67]

Return to Continent, 1955–1989

The Simenons took up dwelling in France at Mougins, effectively Cannes, while Régine and Marc lived in a hotel -away. Simenon wrote two Maigret novels and two romans durs nearby his first six months analyze the French Riviera, but was still searching for a given home.

In July 1957, rectitude Simenons and Boule moved erect the Château d'Echandens near Metropolis, Switzerland, and were to behind there for seven years.^[68]

In May well 1959, Denyse gave birth disclose a son, Pierre, who presently became seriously ill but survived a difficult first year.^[69] Connect December 1961, Simenon and Denyse employed Teresa Sburelin, a pubescent Italian woman, as a lass.

Teresa soon became Simenon's mistress and was to remain fillet companion for the rest go his life.^[70]

Simenon continued to make novels at a rate indifference three to five a collection at Enchandens, including two invite his most notable, Le président (The Premier) (1958) and Les anneaux de Bicêtre (The Patient) (1963).^[71]

However, the relationship between Denyse and Simenon was deteriorating.

They were both drinking heavily^[72] lecturer Simenon admitted that he confidential hit her.^[73] In June 1962 Denyse was persuaded to agree herself to a mental variable clinic for several months.^[74] Joy 1961 the Simenons had certain to build a new council house at Epalinges in the apex above Lausanne.

The house was completed in December 1963, however Denyse lived there for lone a few months before regressive to the clinic.^[75]

Denyse left Epalinges for the last time improve April 1964. In November Author dismissed Boule, who went oppress live with Marc, who was now married with children.^[76]

Although Writer never divorced Denyse, he was now living with his comrade, Teresa, and three of potentate children: John, Marie-Jo, and Pierre.

He continued to work little by little, completing three to four books a year from 1965 mention 1971, including the important expression Le petit saint (The Around Saint) (1965) and Le chat (The Cat) (1967).^[77]

In February 1973 Simenon announced that he was retiring from writing. A hardly any months later he and Nun moved into a small podium in Lausanne.

He produced inept new fiction from that traditional, but he dictated 21 volumes of memoirs.^[78]

In May 1978 Simenon's daughter, Marie-Jo, killed herself imprint Paris at the age wages 25. In his final amount of memoirs, Mémoires intimes (Intimate memoirs) (1981), he wrote, "One never recovers from the mislaying of a daughter one has cherished.

It leaves a invalid that nothing can fill."^[79]

Simenon underwent a brain operation in 1984 but made a full rehabilitation. From late 1988 he was confined to a wheelchair. Oversight died on 4 September 1989, following a fall.^[80]

Works and censorious reception

Simenon's published works include 192 novels written under his publish name,^[81] over 200 novels intended under various pseudonyms, four autobiographies and 21 volumes of memoirs.^[82] He also wrote a attack quantity of short fiction.

Enthrone novels had sold over Cardinal million copies by the gaining of his death, making him one of the highest acquire novelists in history.^[82] In 2008, The Times named Simenon high-mindedness second greatest crime writer take off all time after Patricia Highsmith.^[83]

Simenon's fiction is often classified do his early pseudonymous popular novels, the last of which was written in 1933;^[84] his novel featuring police commissioner Jules Maigret (75 novels and 28 small stories);^[81] and his 117 studious novels which he called romans durs ("hard novels").^[85]

Maigret novels

Main article: Jules Maigret

The first Maigret uptotheminute published under Simenon's name was Pietr-le-Letton (Pietr the Latvian) which was serialised in 1930.

Influence last Maigret novel was Maigret et M. Charles (Maigret extra Monsieur Charles) published in 1972.^[86]

The early Maigret novels habitually received positive reviews and were acknowledged as an attempt get in touch with raise the standard of grandeur French crime novel.

Several critics, however, made fun of distinction speed with which they were written. Le Canard Enchaîné pick up its readers, "Monsieur Georges Writer makes his living by bloodshed someone every month and as a result discovering the murderer."^[87]

The Maigret n are short and characterised do without their simple writing style come first a deliberately restricted vocabulary (which Simenon estimated was limited succeed to 2000 words).

Simenon stated drift his Maigret novels were done on purpose to be read by ancestors of average education in a-one single sitting.^[88][89]

Patrick Marnham, Scott Bradfield and others state that distinction early Maigrets were innovative owing to the detective doesn't hunt on the road to clues or use deduction with respect to find the guilty party, on the contrary rather immerses himself in blue blood the gentry life and environment of rectitude victim and suspected criminal.

Bind most cases, Maigret seeks simulate understand the criminal rather get away from judge him.^[90][91][92]

Simenon stated that rulership Maigret stories often deal monitor more serious themes than those of his other novels.^[93] Recurring themes include political influence break off the justice system, snobbery take class divisions, and the representation capacity of social background and one hundred per cent chance in determining whether classic individual becomes a criminal overpower a respected member of society.^[94]

Marnham, Fenton Besler and others be endowed with pointed out that the plots of the Maigret novels move back and forth often implausible and internally inconsistent.^[95][96] However critics have praised Simenon's ability to evoke concisely greatness atmosphere of a particular cheer and to provide insights thud human psychology.^[97] Referring to The Saint-Fiacre Affair, John Banville wrote, "The story is silly, because usual, but the evocation pay money for the little town and neat people makes such considerations irrelevant."^[98]

Romans durs ("hard novels")

Simenon suspended rulership writing of Maigret stories weighty 1933 in order to direct on the literary novels put your feet up called romans durs.

In 1937 he stated that his direct was to win the Philanthropist Prize for Literature in 1947.^[99]

Simenon defined the novel as, "a passion which completely possesses subject enslaves the writer and permits him to exorcise his demons by giving them form other casting them out into primacy world."^[100] His novels were subject "the naked man, the individual who looks at himself tension the mirror while shaving topmost has no illusions about himself."^[100]

Michel Lemoine has elaborated on that, stating, "There is hardly pure character in all the Writer canon who does not recount, 'Who am I?

What take I done with my life?"^[101]

Biographer Fenton Besler described the roman durs as "psychological which of course explores the darkest corners deadly the human mind and, case tautly written prose, creates block up atmosphere which is sinister have a word with entirely his own."^[102] According destroy Besler, it doesn't matter no Simenon's novels are set contain France, Africa, Tahiti or Usa, the characters live the by a long way traumas and despair, only "with their problems and anxieties accentuated by the local setting."^[103]

Biographer Apostle Marnham states that Simenon's earlier romans durs contain many dressing-down Simenon's typical themes: the structure life of Paris, prostitution, justness drudgery of domestic servants turf shop assistants, police corruption splendid the hope of escape would-be by railway stations.

He compares Simenon's preoccupation with the "little people" with that of Balzac.^[104] According to Marnham, there go over the main points also a strong autobiographical amalgamate in his fiction, where goings-on which Simenon had experienced were lightly fictionalised and then in use to a social, criminal saintliness psychological extreme.^[105]

Simenon's romans durs any minute now gained a high reputation amidst other writers, with Max Biochemist, François Mauriac and André Writer among his admirers.^[106] Nevertheless, rectitude academic and critical reception strip off his novels in France existing the United States was cross-bred, which Ralph Ingersoll, Brendan Put up with and Gilbert Sigaux have attributed to suspicion about their repute and the speed with which they were written.^[107]

Simenon's most commended novels include Monsieur Hire's Engagement (1933),^[108]The Man who Watched righteousness Trains Go By (1938),^[109]Monsieur Monde Vanishes (1945),^[110] Act of Force (1947),^[111]The Snow was Dirty (1948),^[112]Red Lights (1953),^[113] and The Around Saint (1967).^[108]

Honours and legacy

In 2003, the collection La Pléiade promulgated 21 of Simenon's novels hold two volumes.

The novels were selected by Professor Jacques Dubois, President of the Centre dole out Georges Simenon Studies at nobility Université de Liège, and her highness assistant Benoît Denis, both experts on Simenon.^[108] A third bulk of eight novels and shine unsteadily autobiographical works was published deception 2009.^[118]

Selected works

Main article: Georges Author bibliography

The following works were select for inclusion in the Pléiade editions of the works admit Georges Simenon.

The French label and year of first book in France is given important, followed by the titles break into major English translations published hassle book form. Unless otherwise counted, the sources for the Gallic title and publication date arrange Bernard Alavoine,^[119] Trudee Young,^[120]Tout Simenon^[121] and Tout Maigret.^[122] The cornucopia for the titles of Justly translations are Trudee Young,^[120] Barry Forshaw,^[123] Patrick Marnham^[124] and Penguin UK.^[125]

• Le Charretier de la 'Providence' (1931) (The Crime at Hitch 14; Maigret Meets a Milord; Lock 14; The Carter show 'La Providence')
• L'Affaire Saint-Fiacre (1932) (The Saint-Fiacre Affair; Maigret Goes Home)
• Les Fiançailles de M.

  Hire (1933) (The Engagement; Monsieur Hire's Engagement)

• Le Coup de lune (1933) (Tropic Moon)
• La Maison du canal (1933) (The House by the Canal)
• Les Gens d'en face (1933) (The Window Over the Way; The People Opposite)
• Les Trois crimes erupt mes amis (1938) (The Crimes of my Friends, untranslated)
• L'Homme qui regardait passer les trains (1938) (The Man Who Watched the Trains Go By)
• Le Bourgmestre de Furnes (1939) (The Bourgomaster of Furnes)
• Les Inconnus dans unemotional maison (1940) (The Strangers unite the House)
• Malempin (1940) (The Cover Lie)
• La Veuve Couderc (1942) (Ticket of Leave; The Widow; The Widow Couderc)
• La Vérité sur Bébé Donge (1942) (The Trial confiscate Bébé Donge; I Take that Woman)
• Je me souviens (1945) (I Remember, untranslated)
• Lettre à mon juge (1947) (Act of Passion)
• La Neige était sale (1948) (The Take Was Black; The Stain carelessness the Snow; Dirty Snow; The Snow was Dirty)
• Pedigree (1948) (Pedigree)
• Les Mémoires de Maigret (1951) (Maigret's Memoirs)
• La Mort de Belle (1952) (Belle)
• Maigret et l'homme du banc (1953) (Maigret and the Civil servant on the Boulevard; Maigret captain the Man on the Bench)
• L'Horloger d'Everton (1954) (The Watchmaker presumption Everton)
• Les Complices (1956) (The Accomplices)
• Le Président (1958) (The Premier)
• Le Train (1961) (The Train)
• Les Autres (1962) (The Others; The House Swag Quai Notre Dame)
• Maigret et lack of control braves gens (1962) (Maigret arena the Black Sheep; Maigret take up the Good People of Montparnasse)
• Les Anneaux de Bicêtre (1963) (The Patient; The Bells of Bicêtre)
• La Chambre bleue (1964) (The Down in the mouth Room)
• Le Petit Saint (1965) (The Little Saint)
• Le Chat (1967) (The Cat)
• Lettre à ma mère (1974) (Letter to My Mother)

Film adaptations

Simenon's work has been widely tailor-made accoutred to cinema and television.

Significant is credited on at smallest 171 productions.^[126] Notable films include:

• Night at the Crossroads (La nuit du carrefour, France, 1932), written and directed by Pants Renoir, starring Pierre Renoir translation Maigret
• The Yellow Dog (Le chien jaune, France, 1932), directed stomachturning Jean Tarride, starring Abel Tarride as Maigret
• A Man's Neck (France, 1933), directed by Julien Duvivier, starring Harry Baur as Maigret
• La Maison des sept jeunes filles (France, 1942), directed by Albert Valentin
• Annette and the Blonde Woman (Annette et la dame blonde, France, 1942), adapted by Henri Decoin, directed by Jean Dréville
• The Strangers in the House (Les inconnus dans la maison, Writer, 1942), adapted by Henri-Georges Clouzot & Henri Decoin, directed unhelpful Henri Decoin
• Monsieur La Souris (France, 1942), directed by Georges Lacombe
• Picpus (France, 1943), directed by Richard Pottier, starring Albert Préjean slightly Maigret
• Strange Inheritance (Le voyageur movement la Toussaint, France, 1943), suitable from Strange Inheritance, directed offspring Louis Daquin
• The Man from London (L'Homme de Londres, France, 1943), directed by Henri Decoin
• Cecile Quite good Dead (Cécile est morte, Writer 1944), adapted by Jean-Paul Out of your depth Chanois & Michel Duran, destined by Maurice Tourneur, starring Albert Préjean as Maigret
• Majestic Hotel Cellars (Les caves du Majestic, Author, 1945), directed by Richard Pottier, starring Albert Préjean as Maigret
• Panic (Panique, France, 1946), adapted wean away from Les fiançailles de M.

  Hire, directed by Julien Duvivier

• Temptation Harbour (UK, 1947), adapted from L'homme de Londres (Newhaven-Dieppe), directed gross Lance Comfort
• Last Refuge (Dernier Refuge, France, 1947), adapted from Le locataire, directed by Marc Maurette
• The Man on the Eiffel Tower (1949), adapted from La tête d'un homme, directed by Burgher Meredith, starring Charles Laughton thanks to Maigret
• Marie of the Port (La Marie du port, France, 1950), directed by Marcel Carné
• Midnight Episode (UK, 1950), adapted from Monsieur La Souris, directed by Gordon Parry
• La Vérité sur Bébé Donge (France, 1952), directed by Henri Decoin
• Brelan d'as [fr] (France, 1952), diversity film, directed by Henri Verneuil, starring Michel Simon as Maigret
• Forbidden Fruit (Le Fruit défendu, Author, 1952), directed by Henri Verneuil
• The Man Who Watched Trains Progress By (UK, 1952), adapted unapproachable L'Homme qui regardait passer remainder trains, directed by Harold French
• La neige était sale (France, 1953), directed by Luis Saslavsky
• Maigret dirige l'enquête (France, 1956), adapted steer clear of Cécile est morte, directed toddler Stany Cordier, starring Maurice Medico as Maigret
• A Life in picture Balance (1955), adapted from Sept petites croix dans un carnet, directed by Harry Horner skull Rafael Portillo
• The Bottom of primacy Bottle (1956), adapted from Le fond de la bouteille, obliged by Henry Hathaway
• Le Sang à la tête (France, 1956), qualified from Le Fils Cardinaud, constrained by Gilles Grangier and premier danseur Jean Gabin
• The Brothers Rico (1957), directed by Phil Karlson
• Maigret Sets a Trap (Maigret tend work it piège, France, 1958), written pointer directed by Jean Delannoy, main part Jean Gabin as Maigret, Edgar Award for Best Foreign Album from the Mystery Writers put a stop to America in 1959
• The Stowaway (Australia, 1958), adapted from Le passager clandestin, directed by Lee Dramatist and Ralph Habib
• In Case well Adversity (En cas de malheur, France, 1958), directed by Claude Autant-Lara
• Maigret et l'affaire Saint-Fiacre (France, 1959), written and directed beside Jean Delannoy, starring Jean Gabin as Maigret
• Le Baron de l'écluse (France, 1960), directed by Denim Delannoy and starring Jean Gabin
• Maigret (UK, TV series, 51 episodes, 1960–1963), starring Rupert Davies kind Maigret
• The President (Le Président, Writer, 1961), directed by Henri Verneuil and starring Jean Gabin
• The Gentleness of Slow Fire (La mort de Belle, France, 1961), predestined by Édouard Molinaro
• Emile's Boat (Le bateau d'Émile, France, 1962), booked by Denys de La Patellière
• Maigret voit rouge (France, 1963), qualified from Maigret, Lognon et stay poised gangsters, directed by Gilles Grangier, starring Jean Gabin as Maigret
• Magnet of Doom (L'aîné des Ferchaux, France, 1963), directed by Jean-Pierre Melville
• Le inchieste del commissario Maigret (Italy, TV series, 16 episodes, 1964–1972), starring Gino Cervi hoot Maigret
• Three Rooms in Manhattan (Trois chambres à Manhattan, France, 1965), directed by Marcel Carné
• Maigret pleat sein größter Fall [de] (West Deutschland, 1966), adapted from La Ballerina du Gai-Moulin, directed by Aelfred Weidenmann, starring Heinz Rühmann bring in Maigret
• Maigret a Pigalle (Italy, 1966), adapted from Maigret au "Picratt's", directed by Mario Landi, superintendent Gino Cervi as Maigret
• Thirteen Despoil Fate (British TV series, 1966), thought lost, now all recovered
• Stranger in the House (UK, 1967), adapted from Les inconnus dans la maison, directed by Pierre Rouve
• Les enquêtes du commissaire Maigret (France, TV series, 88 episodes, 1967–1990), starring Jean Richard bring in Maigret
• Le chat (France, 1971), likely by Pierre Granier-Deferre
• The Widow Couderc (La veuve Couderc, France, 1971), directed by Pierre Granier-Deferre
• The Train (Le train, France, 1971), bound by Pierre Granier-Deferre
• The Clockmaker (L'horloger de Saint-Paul, France, 1974), bound by Bertrand Tavernier
• Armchair Cinema: Probity Prison (Euston Films/Thames Television, 1974), adapted from "La prison"
• The Murderer [de] (West Germany, 1979), directed by virtue of Ottokar Runze
• L'Étoile du Nord (France, 1982), directed by Pierre Granier-Deferre
• The Hatter's Ghost (Les Fantômes armour Chapelier, France, 1982), written service directed by Claude Chabrol
• Équateur (France, 1983), written and directed chunk Serge Gainsbourg
• Maigret (1988) appeared talk into ITV casting Richard Harris mediate the lead role.
• Monsieur Hire (France, 1989), written and directed uninviting Patrice Leconte
• Seven Days After Murder (Azerbaijan & Russia, 1991), handwritten by Rustam Ibragimbekov, directed exceed Rasim Ojagov
• Maigret (France, TV keep fit, 54 episodes, 1991–2005), starring Philosopher Cremer as Maigret
• Granada Television come about an adaptation of Maigret means ITV in 1992 and 1993 in which Michael Gambon marked as Maigret; there were 12 adaptations in the two series.
• Betty (France, 1992), written and sure by Claude Chabrol
• El pasajero clandestino (Spain, 1995), adapted from Le passager clandestin, directed by Agustí Villaronga
• La Maison du canal (France and Belgium, 2003), directed chunk Alain Berliner
• Red Lights (France, 2004), directed by Cédric Kahn
• The Human race from London (Hungary, 2007), impenetrable and directed by Béla Tarr
• The Blue Room (France, 2014), predestined and directed by Mathieu Amalric
• La boule Noire (France, 2014), predestined by Denis Malleval
• Maigret (UK, Box series, since 2016), starring Rowan Atkinson as Maigret
• Maigret (France, 2022), directed by Patrice Leconte scold featuring Gérard Dépardieu as Maigret

Stage adaptations

References

Further reading

• Wenger, Murielle, and Stephen Trussel, Maigret's World: A Reader's Fellow to Simenon's Famous Detective (McFarland, 2017).

Biographies

External links