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In Case of Emergency / The Little Saint
323 pages, Paperback
Published June 26, 1986
About the author
Georges Simenon
2,665 books2,453 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 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 2, 2025
I always pounce when I see a Simenon book in a charity shop, and because he wrote so many of the things, the chances are good it will be a volume I haven't read. When I saw this omnibus on a shelf in the Red Cross shop I immediately grabbed it.
The first of the novels here, IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, is lesser Simenon, in my view. It's the story of a lawyer in Paris who specialises in defending the most obviously guilty criminals and occasionally gets them off, thanks to his legalistic ingenuity. Naturally, disaster follows.
But the second novel, THE LITTLE SAINT, is the most uncharacteristic Simenon book I have ever read. For a start, it's not crime fiction. It's the life story of a poor boy who grows up to become a famous painter. It is extraordinarily atmospheric, sordid and colourful in turns, and it surprised me.
The first of the novels here, IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, is lesser Simenon, in my view. It's the story of a lawyer in Paris who specialises in defending the most obviously guilty criminals and occasionally gets them off, thanks to his legalistic ingenuity. Naturally, disaster follows.
But the second novel, THE LITTLE SAINT, is the most uncharacteristic Simenon book I have ever read. For a start, it's not crime fiction. It's the life story of a poor boy who grows up to become a famous painter. It is extraordinarily atmospheric, sordid and colourful in turns, and it surprised me.
February 5, 2019
This book is a pairing of two very different Simenon 'Roman Durs' (Hard novels) here. Perhaps it is the contrast in the two stories that brought them together.
'In Case of Emergency' is a typical Roman Durs. Maitre Gobillot is a prominent defence lawyer who has, with his wife Vivian, gained success and social standing. Both his career and his marriage, however, have been tainted.
Gobillot finds himself defending a young prostitute, Yvette, and becomes obsessed/in love/in need of her? What are the impacts on his career, his marriage, and on himself? Expertly written as always by Simenon.
In contrast, 'The Little Saint' is not a 'hard novel' at all. We follow the life of Louis Cuchas from when he is 4 or 5, living in a poor apartment with his brothers, sisters and mother close to Les Halles in Paris where his mother works. We follow him through school to adulthood and grow attached to him as he remains a 'little saint' (his school nickname) despite his harsh environment. Simenon does a great job in taking us into the world of this family and Louis' feelings and attitude to life.
'In Case of Emergency' is a typical Roman Durs. Maitre Gobillot is a prominent defence lawyer who has, with his wife Vivian, gained success and social standing. Both his career and his marriage, however, have been tainted.
Gobillot finds himself defending a young prostitute, Yvette, and becomes obsessed/in love/in need of her? What are the impacts on his career, his marriage, and on himself? Expertly written as always by Simenon.
In contrast, 'The Little Saint' is not a 'hard novel' at all. We follow the life of Louis Cuchas from when he is 4 or 5, living in a poor apartment with his brothers, sisters and mother close to Les Halles in Paris where his mother works. We follow him through school to adulthood and grow attached to him as he remains a 'little saint' (his school nickname) despite his harsh environment. Simenon does a great job in taking us into the world of this family and Louis' feelings and attitude to life.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews