Reading the Detectives discussion
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Georges Simenon

I'm thinking I'll have a look at Audible and see if there is one read (in English!) by a French actor - could be sheer listening pleasure. I'll report back.
I've just had a look, but they are all read by an English actor - I listened to a sample and found it a bit hard to take in, so I'll forget the audiobooks idea for now.
I've just found an article suggesting the 10 best Maigret books - there are 75 books altogether, plus 28 short stories! - so I'll probably start with one of those.
http://theculturetrip.com/europe/belg...
I've just found an article suggesting the 10 best Maigret books - there are 75 books altogether, plus 28 short stories! - so I'll probably start with one of those.
http://theculturetrip.com/europe/belg...

So far I have read Maigret and the Man on the Bench, The Hotel Majestic and Lock 14.

The great French actor J..."
I have only read a handful. Two of his are on The Guardian newspaper's list of 1000 novels everyone should read:
The Blue Room and The Madman of Bergerac
I also thought The Hotel Majestic was very good.
I'm going to pick up the first Maigret, Pietr the Latvian, from the library today - will let you know how I enjoy it. Thanks for the suggested titles, Jan and Leslie - if I like this one, I'll aim for those next.

I've started Pietr the Latvian now and am enjoying it so far - Maigret is a vivid character and the landscapes seem like the world of the 1930s French films I've seen. I'd be up for a buddy read of one of these in the future, Carolien. :)

I've just noticed that in the UK ITV is showing a new Maigret series starting on Easter Monday, with Rowan Atkinson in the title role. There is an excerpt from it online which looks pretty good and has whetted my appetite!
http://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep1wee...
http://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep1wee...

No, he isn't big at all, so he doesn't fit the physical image, but it still looks as if it will be good. I wonder if there is a trailer somewhere which will play in the US?
I enjoyed the Maigret film and thought it was very atmospheric - this was a one-off for now, but at the end the announcer said there is more coming later in the year.
I've been searching to see when Maigret is returning and haven't found much information. But at the imdb it says the next TV film, Maigret's Dead Man, is due to be shown in December in the UK - so maybe it will be a Christmas special.
Did anyone else watch last night's Maigret special in the UK? I thought it was very good, although I haven't read the book so don't know how true it was. I still find Rowan Atkinson slightly strange casting for the part because he is so different from the descriptions of Maigret in the books, but he's compelling to watch.


I think I saw one or two of the Gambon episodes, but I haven't seen any of the Rupert Davies ones. Rowan Atkinson is very different in this from in any other parts I've seen him in.

I enjoyed the Gambon series.
Not really a big fan of Atkinson, I think I have seen him in a few things that have surprised me that it was him. Maybe one day we will get to see it here.

Many critics regard Dirty Snow as Simenon's best work. I was very impressed with The Man Who Watched Trains Go By.
Thank you, Christophe - I'd mainly heard of him as the author of the Maigret books but these other titles sound excellent.
I see some have also been reissued in English translation by Penguin Modern Classics in the UK - they have published a new translation of Dirty Snow, written in 1948, with the alternative title The Snow Was Dirty.
One of the quotes on the Amazon review page says: "So noir it makes Raymond Chandler look beige.' (The Independent)"
I see some have also been reissued in English translation by Penguin Modern Classics in the UK - they have published a new translation of Dirty Snow, written in 1948, with the alternative title The Snow Was Dirty.

One of the quotes on the Amazon review page says: "So noir it makes Raymond Chandler look beige.' (The Independent)"

What a terrific description!! Short, compellingly clear, and funny.
Thanks for sharing!
Christophe wrote: ""So noir it makes Raymond Chandler look beige" ....
What a terrific description!! Short, compellingly clear, and funny.
Thanks for sharing!"
Thanks, Christophe - the comment has quite a hardboiled flavour in itself!
What a terrific description!! Short, compellingly clear, and funny.
Thanks for sharing!"
Thanks, Christophe - the comment has quite a hardboiled flavour in itself!
There is a Georges Simenon newsletter run by Peters, Fraser & Dunlop, who also do the Crime Classics newsletter and several for other authors. Anyone signing up can get free excerpts and special offers:
https://georgessimenon.co.uk/
https://georgessimenon.co.uk/

Thanks, Judy, I just signed up.
Maigret in Montmatre is on ITV at 8.30pm tonight, the latest in the series starring Rowan Atkinson as Maigret.

I always love finding a new series that I like so I shall have my fingers crossed!

I enjoyed this and may look out the book at some point too. I was surprised at Rowan Atkinson as I've only seen him do comedy before - he was better than I would have expected in this role. The seediness of the setting came through really well, as did the hopelessness of some of the characters and their lives. The thing I enjoyed most, although it was only a minor part of the story, was the relationship between Maigret and his wife. It was tender without being saccharine.
Thank you for recommending this Judy!
Thanks Sue! I haven't had a chance to watch this yet but have it recorded and am looking forward to catching up with it. Glad to hear the Maigrets' relationship came across well.
I enjoyed the new Maigret episode, although it did feel very dark and downbeat.
I've also just read another Maigret book, The Late Monsieur Gallet - this is the second in the Penguin reprint series although I believe it was actually number 3 or 4 in the original order of publication (different sites vary over this). This is a great story, very intense and can almost be read at a sitting - I thought there were one or two unlikely elements to the plot, but really liked it anyway.
I've also just read another Maigret book, The Late Monsieur Gallet - this is the second in the Penguin reprint series although I believe it was actually number 3 or 4 in the original order of publication (different sites vary over this). This is a great story, very intense and can almost be read at a sitting - I thought there were one or two unlikely elements to the plot, but really liked it anyway.

Anyway to follow on from Judy's comments I started reading the new Penguin translations of Maigret last year and at the rate of one a month I am now on book 21. My intention is , well obviously, to go all the way through, so this challenge will last me at least another 5 years. All good fun, as the novels have been excellent so far, and at the rate of one a month i don't get bored with the character or the settings.
I have to say whilst Rowan Atkinson is not the big built and burly Maigret of the books, I think he did such a good job that I now see him as I read the novels.

A British actor.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rowan_A...

I'm impressed that you have already read so many of the Maigret books, Adrian.
I've enjoyed the Atkinson adaptations so far, although I agree that he isn't how I would think of Maigret from the novels.
I've enjoyed the Atkinson adaptations so far, although I agree that he isn't how I would think of Maigret from the novels.

I've enjoyed the Atkinson adaptations so far, although I agree that he isn't how I would think of Maigret from the n..."
Its strange Judy, or maybe it isn't, I don't know, but at one a month they are just so enjoyable, so French, so of their time, so atmospheric, that it is a real pleasure to read them.

Sorry Elizabeth, I sometimes forget that not everybody knows who our British actors are, although I'm sure you must have come across Mr Bean

Not a problem. I have watched some British sitcoms in the past. But no one should feel slighted - I don't know the names of US actors either for the most part.



He is very different when playing Maigret - quiet and intense. It was reported a while ago that the series has already been cancelled after just 4 episodes.

I know its strange isn't, but he did an excellent job as Maigret, despite not having the same build as it says Maigret has in the books. He showed a real sensitivity and je ne sais quoi playing the role.

I know I was really gutted as they were all really good and very atmospheric as well as being quite close to the books. Big shame.
I'll have to investigate previous actors.
I know great French actor Jean Gabin played him in some films, but not sure if they are available with subtitles which would be a must for me. I'd love to see him in the part. I expect they are b&w though which wouldn't worry me as I love old films.
Books mentioned in this topic
Maigret et les braves gens (other topics)Inspector Maigret Omnibus, Volume 1: Pietr the Latvian; The Hanged Man of Saint-Pholien; The Carter of 'La Providence'; The Grand Banks Café (other topics)
The Carter of 'La Providence' (other topics)
A Man's Head (other topics)
The Carter of 'La Providence' (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Georges Simenon (other topics)Georges Simenon (other topics)
Georges Simenon (other topics)
The great French actor Jean Gabin played the character in some French adaptations, which I've been meaning to try, and Michael Gambon played him on British TV.