Reading the Detectives discussion

Must confess, I've never read a word of the Maigret series by Georges Simenon - but I've been thinking I'd like to try him. Does anyone have any suggestions?

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.

I read quite a few when I was a teenager in the late 70s but, and in common with Agatha Christie, I can't remember much about them except how much I enjoyed them.

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...

My introduction was in college French where we read Maigret Et Les Braves Gens. I think all of us had trouble even translating the title. But after watching a few on International Mysteries I have gone back to reading them again. Have only read a few.

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

Judy wrote: "Must confess, I've never read a word of the Maigret series by Georges Simenon - but I've been thinking I'd like to try him. Does anyone have any suggestions?

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 read a lot of them years ago and enjoyed them. I have about 30 on my shelf so if anybody would like to read some of them as buddy reads I should be able to join in. I like Judy's idea of using the 10 best books as a starting point.

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. :)

Hmm I have that one on my Kindle to read slot (looks sheepish!), I really must get around to reading it lol

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...

I have difficulty picturing Rowan Atkinson as Maigret. (The picture won't play in the US.) Maigret is always described as a big man and I wasn't aware that Atkinson was that big.

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?

Well, maybe PBS or some channel (Lifetime picked And Then There Were None) will pick it up.

I'm sure they will - hope you get to see it soon.

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.

Welcome T. You have reminded me, must check when Maigret is due to return to TV!

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.

Atkinson, who I really like, seems a strange choice for Maigret.I can only see him as Blackadder or Mr. Bean and associate him with comedy. But that certainly doesn't mean that he can't play a more serious part....it is just hard to imagine him in the role of Maigret. Many years ago Michael Gambon played the part on television and was just perfect (just like David Suchet was perfect for Poirot).

I liked Rupert Davies, but that was the old 60's series. I can't stand Rowan Atkinson , so I don't watch it

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.

Jill wrote: "Atkinson, who I really like, seems a strange choice for Maigret.I can only see him as Blackadder or Mr. Bean and associate him with comedy. But that certainly doesn't mean that he can't play a more..."

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.

There is much more to Georges Simenon than Maigret. Notably, Simenon also wrote "romans durs" or "hard novels." The great majority of them involve a crime, and so can classified as crime novels. Several of the very best have been re-issued (in English translation) by NYRB in the past few years, and are easily available.

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)"

"So noir it makes Raymond Chandler look beige" ....
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!

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/

Judy wrote: "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 of..."

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.

Thanks Judy - I was interested to know more about the Maigret series - I've never read any - so I will watch this tonight.

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

Sue wrote: "Thanks Judy - I was interested to know more about the Maigret series - I've never read any - so I will watch this tonight."

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 know it's quite a while since anyone commented on here, but as per usual I'm a few months (years behind ).

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.

Who is Rowan Atkinson?

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Who is Rowan Atkinson?"

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

Ah, thanks. I thought maybe he was a character in one of the novels. I wasn't aware any of the Maigret had been filmed. Not that I'd watch anyway. ;-)

He used to be on PBS here in Mr. Bean and, I think, Black Adder.

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.

Judy wrote: "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 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.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Who is Rowan Atkinson?"

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

Adrian wrote: "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.

Personally, I don't like the actor so didn't watch any, as I didn't want to think of him while I was reading the books.

I'm with Jill on this, I can't see Rowan Atkinson outside Mr Bean/Blackadder - certainly not Maigret!

He had a small part in Love, Actually. I liked him better in that than anything else I had seen him in. Did the right amount of business for the fussy character he played.

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.

Roman Clodia wrote: "I'm with Jill on this, I can't see Rowan Atkinson outside Mr Bean/Blackadder - certainly not Maigret!"

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.

Judy wrote: "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 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.