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Maigret and the Minister
Inspector Jules Maigret differs from his English counterparts of the 1930s and 40s in that he is a respectable, bourgeois member of the police force - archetypally "French". In this reissued collection of dramatized short stories, adapted for BBC Radio 4, Maigret and Simenon look back over four of their greatest cases.
Maigret and the Minister
Maigret and the Hundred Gibbets
Maigret and Monsieur Charles
Maigret and the Madman of Bergerac
Where is the vital report that holds the key to the fate of the French government? What is the secret behind the mysterious suicide in Bremen? Who is responsible for the sudden disappearance of one of Paris’ best known solicitors? And will the demented double murderer strike again?
Maigret and the Minister
Maigret and the Hundred Gibbets
Maigret and Monsieur Charles
Maigret and the Madman of Bergerac
Where is the vital report that holds the key to the fate of the French government? What is the secret behind the mysterious suicide in Bremen? Who is responsible for the sudden disappearance of one of Paris’ best known solicitors? And will the demented double murderer strike again?
3 pages, Audio Cassette
Published March 1, 1999
About the author
Georges Simenon
2,622 books2,400 followersGeorges Joseph Christian Simenon (1903 – 1989) was a Belgian writer. A prolific author who published nearly 500 novels and numerous short works, Simenon is best known as the creator of the fictional detective Jules Maigret.
Although he never resided in Belgium after 1922, he remained a Belgian citizen throughout his life.
Simenon was one of the most prolific writers of the twentieth century, capable of writing 60 to 80 pages per day. His oeuvre includes nearly 200 novels, over 150 novellas, several autobiographical works, numerous articles, and scores of pulp novels written under more than two dozen pseudonyms. Altogether, about 550 million copies of his works have been printed.
He is best known, however, for his 75 novels and 28 short stories featuring Commissaire Maigret. The first novel in the series, Pietr-le-Letton, appeared in 1931; the last one, Maigret et M. Charles, was published in 1972. The Maigret novels were translated into all major languages and several of them were turned into films and radio plays. Two television series (1960-63 and 1992-93) have been made in Great Britain.
During his "American" period, Simenon reached the height of his creative powers, and several novels of those years were inspired by the context in which they were written (Trois chambres à Manhattan (1946), Maigret à New York (1947), Maigret se fâche (1947)).
Simenon also wrote a large number of "psychological novels", such as La neige était sale (1948) or Le fils (1957), as well as several autobiographical works, in particular Je me souviens (1945), Pedigree (1948), Mémoires intimes (1981).
In 1966, Simenon was given the MWA's highest honor, the Grand Master Award.
In 2005 he was nominated for the title of De Grootste Belg (The Greatest Belgian). In the Flemish version he ended 77th place. In the Walloon version he ended 10th place.
Although he never resided in Belgium after 1922, he remained a Belgian citizen throughout his life.
Simenon was one of the most prolific writers of the twentieth century, capable of writing 60 to 80 pages per day. His oeuvre includes nearly 200 novels, over 150 novellas, several autobiographical works, numerous articles, and scores of pulp novels written under more than two dozen pseudonyms. Altogether, about 550 million copies of his works have been printed.
He is best known, however, for his 75 novels and 28 short stories featuring Commissaire Maigret. The first novel in the series, Pietr-le-Letton, appeared in 1931; the last one, Maigret et M. Charles, was published in 1972. The Maigret novels were translated into all major languages and several of them were turned into films and radio plays. Two television series (1960-63 and 1992-93) have been made in Great Britain.
During his "American" period, Simenon reached the height of his creative powers, and several novels of those years were inspired by the context in which they were written (Trois chambres à Manhattan (1946), Maigret à New York (1947), Maigret se fâche (1947)).
Simenon also wrote a large number of "psychological novels", such as La neige était sale (1948) or Le fils (1957), as well as several autobiographical works, in particular Je me souviens (1945), Pedigree (1948), Mémoires intimes (1981).
In 1966, Simenon was given the MWA's highest honor, the Grand Master Award.
In 2005 he was nominated for the title of De Grootste Belg (The Greatest Belgian). In the Flemish version he ended 77th place. In the Walloon version he ended 10th place.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 18, 2025
Lunchtime Listen Summer 2021
I need to make it very clear, this audiobook is a dramatised version of 4 abridged Maigret stories, starring the British character actor Maurice Denham as Maigret. It is not the narration of the book by Gareth Armstrong
Given that each episode is approx 45 mins, they are very much abridged from the Maigret novels. The way they give some of the background that you read in the novels, is to have "conversations" between Maigret and his friend (in reality creator) Georges Simenon. For a Maigret purist I can see this would be ridiculous, but when you are doing DIY and just need an interesting story acted out for you, these episodes are just what you need.
I think I have read 3 of the 4 novels dramatised in this audiobook so that really helped me in those stories but you would not need to know the stories to enjoy this audiobook.
I will certainly listen to more of these dramatised books, but will also continue to read the translated novels.
I need to make it very clear, this audiobook is a dramatised version of 4 abridged Maigret stories, starring the British character actor Maurice Denham as Maigret. It is not the narration of the book by Gareth Armstrong
Given that each episode is approx 45 mins, they are very much abridged from the Maigret novels. The way they give some of the background that you read in the novels, is to have "conversations" between Maigret and his friend (in reality creator) Georges Simenon. For a Maigret purist I can see this would be ridiculous, but when you are doing DIY and just need an interesting story acted out for you, these episodes are just what you need.
I think I have read 3 of the 4 novels dramatised in this audiobook so that really helped me in those stories but you would not need to know the stories to enjoy this audiobook.
I will certainly listen to more of these dramatised books, but will also continue to read the translated novels.
November 25, 2022
I enjoyed this collect of stories and they were all well executed. I selected this for a Crime spree challenge as my translated book.
January 21, 2019
A depressing little story. As one reviewer pointed out the similarity to the state of politics today, I had to remember that the story stays the same through civilization.
I didn't find this one to be my favorite. Much was made of the corruption, while the children killed areen't considered a 'murder' because, of course, there are so many of them.
On the other hand, I do enjoy the BBC dramatization of these stories. It's a pleasant reminder of all the Simenon books I've read over the years, forgotten, and can now compare his works better to others who went before him. I don't read many newer era mysteries, because they're so depressingly real. I can watch the news if I want to be distressed. The separation of history, location, and social status keep it far enough from my discomfort zone. The Golden Age casts a long shadow here.
I didn't find this one to be my favorite. Much was made of the corruption, while the children killed areen't considered a 'murder' because, of course, there are so many of them.
On the other hand, I do enjoy the BBC dramatization of these stories. It's a pleasant reminder of all the Simenon books I've read over the years, forgotten, and can now compare his works better to others who went before him. I don't read many newer era mysteries, because they're so depressingly real. I can watch the news if I want to be distressed. The separation of history, location, and social status keep it far enough from my discomfort zone. The Golden Age casts a long shadow here.
January 5, 2017
Radio drama--about 50 minutes. Well done. The government minister has had documents stolen from him, documents that implicate a construction firm in shady practices that result in the death of orphans at an orphanage. The "cutting corners" theme seems ahead of the times to me. Well acted, perfect for an hour workout at the gym.
February 25, 2020
Another mystery for Maigret. And another that he solves (of course).
Interesting with a view of everyday life in Paris in the fifties. Almost everyday he heads home to have lunch with his wife, for example. But even then there are a number of characters, in and out of government, all acting on their own agendas. Just as crocked then as now!
Interesting with a view of everyday life in Paris in the fifties. Almost everyday he heads home to have lunch with his wife, for example. But even then there are a number of characters, in and out of government, all acting on their own agendas. Just as crocked then as now!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews