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The ninth Simenon omnibus
English, French (translation)
- GenresCrime
Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
About the author
Georges Simenon
2,598 books2,355 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 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 3, 2014
This Penguin paperback contains three Maigret novels:
Maigret and Monsieur Charles 1972
The Disappearance of Odile 1971
The Cat 1967
All written relatively late in Simenon's career.
Maigret and Monsieur Charles 1972
The Disappearance of Odile 1971
The Cat 1967
All written relatively late in Simenon's career.
March 8, 2023
Stina's Challenge gave me a reason to pull this nugget off Mt TBR. Simenon was truly a master of the genre in his own way -- not a pageturner, but still suspenseful and thought-provoking. This omnibus contained 3 separate books.
Margaret Has Doubts was interesting to me as a lawyer because of the different way judges interact with criminal cases in France. I think in the US Maigret would not have been as restricted in following up leads. But that doesn't guarantee that the ending would have been any more satisfying. It was also instructive to see the 1950s attitude toward women and domestic violence and sexual assault and the double standard. There has definitely been progress but not as much as we need.
The Old Man was not a mystery but a story of suspense and the way a family falls apart when the most dominant member dies. I felt the most kinship with Antoine (as one is probably meant to) and the fact that his world was so different, so much smaller in a way, than that of his brothers. It was also a reminder to me of the burden assumed by the child who is left with the largest burden of caring for aging parents -- which was not me.
Maigret and the Minister was a tale of political intrigue as much as a mystery. I think both Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot had similar cases of important documents gone astray which have the potential to upend the government. This story was more involved and a lot more familiar feeling for someone who works in Washington DC, but we'll outside the circles of power. An honest politician (if there is such a thing) is at much at risk of going astray unawares because of the machinations of others as of being corrupted. Too bad things are so much more dire and diabolical nowadays and it is down to fascists and the rest of us.
Margaret Has Doubts was interesting to me as a lawyer because of the different way judges interact with criminal cases in France. I think in the US Maigret would not have been as restricted in following up leads. But that doesn't guarantee that the ending would have been any more satisfying. It was also instructive to see the 1950s attitude toward women and domestic violence and sexual assault and the double standard. There has definitely been progress but not as much as we need.
The Old Man was not a mystery but a story of suspense and the way a family falls apart when the most dominant member dies. I felt the most kinship with Antoine (as one is probably meant to) and the fact that his world was so different, so much smaller in a way, than that of his brothers. It was also a reminder to me of the burden assumed by the child who is left with the largest burden of caring for aging parents -- which was not me.
Maigret and the Minister was a tale of political intrigue as much as a mystery. I think both Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot had similar cases of important documents gone astray which have the potential to upend the government. This story was more involved and a lot more familiar feeling for someone who works in Washington DC, but we'll outside the circles of power. An honest politician (if there is such a thing) is at much at risk of going astray unawares because of the machinations of others as of being corrupted. Too bad things are so much more dire and diabolical nowadays and it is down to fascists and the rest of us.
October 11, 2021
Two Maigret stories and one other. Well written stories, but slow moving.
April 8, 2023
Maigret Has Doubts
The Old Man Dies (not a Maigret)
Maigret and the Minister
The Old Man Dies (not a Maigret)
Maigret and the Minister
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews