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Maigret's World: A Reader's Companion to Simenon's Famous Detective
Georges Simenon's 75 novels and 28 short stories that feature Chief Inspector Jules Maigret provide us with a great deal of information about the French police detective--but only in small, episodic doses. As readers become acquainted with Maigret one detail at a time, he slowly takes on a flesh-and-bone realism--not merely a character in a story, but someone we would like to meet in real life. This book presents all the canonical facts and details about the detective and his world in one place, presented with tabulations and analyses that enable a better understanding of the works and of Maigret himself.
244 pages, Paperback
Published August 30, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 25, 2018
An invaluable reference book for any fan or reader of the Maigret books by Georges Simenon. A wealth of knowledge brought together into one book that has no equal on the internet.
It clearly marks the evolution of the Chief Inspector from the pen of the author and why different emphases were placed within the stories at different times. Also pinpoints as a reference the use of different given names, weather, inspectors and time frames for stories to highlight four of the many aspects to be brought into focus.
As stated it is a reference book and therefore isn’t read as a novel but it is clear and well proportioned into chapters, headings and topics. So it is a resources to keep to hand and refer to from time to time.
For me it is interesting to look objectively at Maigret’s methods and to learn the great detection does not think, where others rely on little grey cells.
My only frustration is the lack of consistency in the titles in the Maigret collection of stories; more so now that Penguin is over 50 books into a new modern print run.
My copy is a kindle edition and you wonder if they will correct this or update matters in due course.
It clearly marks the evolution of the Chief Inspector from the pen of the author and why different emphases were placed within the stories at different times. Also pinpoints as a reference the use of different given names, weather, inspectors and time frames for stories to highlight four of the many aspects to be brought into focus.
As stated it is a reference book and therefore isn’t read as a novel but it is clear and well proportioned into chapters, headings and topics. So it is a resources to keep to hand and refer to from time to time.
For me it is interesting to look objectively at Maigret’s methods and to learn the great detection does not think, where others rely on little grey cells.
My only frustration is the lack of consistency in the titles in the Maigret collection of stories; more so now that Penguin is over 50 books into a new modern print run.
My copy is a kindle edition and you wonder if they will correct this or update matters in due course.
November 22, 2021
Basic book- just as it sounds. Chapters on Maigret's youth, his drinks, his foods, his friends, his home - the whole shebang. Useful in that it brings the whole totality together for a pretty definitive judgement- including the sometimes minor contradictions. Well done and thanks.
May 26, 2021
Wish it included the titles in English. Wish it did a clearer job of connecting characters from different books.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews