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Menaces de mort
Analyse : Roman policier.
- GenresShort Stories
112 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1942
About the author
Georges Simenon
2,691 books2,457 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 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 6, 2022
3 Stars. Not a soul in the story is likeable, well, perhaps some of the women and I do admire the persistence of Detective Chief Inspector Maigret. He earns his pay in this one. A well known Parisian personality, Emile Grosbois the rich scrap dealer, goes to the top when he receives a letter threatening his life. "You will die before 6 p.m. on Sunday. And everyone will be glad to be rid of you." On hearing from Grosbois, the Superintendent of the Police Judiciaire, Maigret's boss, assigns him to spend the weekend at the Grosbois estate in Coudray to guard against the questionable threat. Could one of the family have penned the anonymous note? Emile himself? A rude and domineering man who elicits zero sympathy. Or his identical twin brother Oscar, born seconds too late for the inheritance, who insists at every opportunity that Emile should be committed to an institution. He's the one having a side-fling with the maid Babette who doesn't like their sister Francoise. There's also Eliane, Emile's niece, flaunting herself at Maigret and her brother Henri, a drug addict. Does the threat come from outside? Is it even real? It gets tense as 6 pm approaches. (July 2022)
February 2, 2019
The Maigret stories can be divided into two basic groups: the true police procedurals that show us the hands-on routine of police work, and the stories of Maigret's dealings with outsiders: witnesses, family members, coworkers of the victim, etc. This instalment is an oddity, as it deals with a crime that has not yet been committed.
Maigret finds himself babysitting a potential murder victim, though he's unsure that there will be a crime at all. Simenon evokes the claustrophobic atmosphere of a dysfunctional family extremely well, though it doesn't make for pleasant reading. Unfortunately, the resolution of the plot lets him down, being rather less than believable. I got the impression that the author had just tacked on a denouement in a hurry, any old how, to finish the story.
Most unsatisfying. Therefore two stars, edging onto a star and a half.
Maigret finds himself babysitting a potential murder victim, though he's unsure that there will be a crime at all. Simenon evokes the claustrophobic atmosphere of a dysfunctional family extremely well, though it doesn't make for pleasant reading. Unfortunately, the resolution of the plot lets him down, being rather less than believable. I got the impression that the author had just tacked on a denouement in a hurry, any old how, to finish the story.
Most unsatisfying. Therefore two stars, edging onto a star and a half.
February 5, 2022
Not one of his best.
May 7, 2023
Menacé de mort par une lettre anonyme et ce, dimanche avant six heures de l’après-midi, Emile Grosbois fait appel à Maigret.
Mais comme toujours, Maigret a besoin de temps, d’espace pour s’épanouir. Et une nouvelle, non, c’est trop court !
Lu dans une édition avec de fines illustrations de Loustal qui donnent un peu de grâce à ce glauque huis-clos dans une famille où tout le monde semble se détester cordialement
https://www.noid.ch/menaces-de-mort/
Mais comme toujours, Maigret a besoin de temps, d’espace pour s’épanouir. Et une nouvelle, non, c’est trop court !
Lu dans une édition avec de fines illustrations de Loustal qui donnent un peu de grâce à ce glauque huis-clos dans une famille où tout le monde semble se détester cordialement
https://www.noid.ch/menaces-de-mort/
August 21, 2026
Quite amusing. Better than most of the Maigret short stories. The plot and denouement are more straightforward and credible than usual in them and there’s more room for Simenon’s forte, the atmospherics and the (selectively) pitiless character depictions.
July 11, 2023
Este libro no está traducido al español. Si a alguien le interesa tengo una traducción libre que he hecho yo. Si os interesa os la puedo enviar por mail.
July 11, 2023
Este libro no está traducido al español. Si a alguien le interesa tengo una traducción libre que he hecho yo. Si os interesa os la puedo enviar por mail.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews