The « romans durs » by Simenon are full of surprises. Good
ones.
However, all is not on top level even if these
are his best production.
Simenon considered these though novels as a more
literary section of his work, and it was.
The huge success of the Maigret series shadowed a
little, during the recent years, the excellence of these
novels
IMO, the absolute top, and fully existential for
the count, is "La neige 鴡it sale" (The Stain on the Snow-
aka: The Snow was Black). A masterpiece. Dark, haunting… and
noir.
I could also recommend:
"Trois chambres ࠍanhattan" (Three Beds in
Manhattan)
"Les fian硩lles de Monsieur Hire" (Mr Hire's
Engagement)
« Lettre ࠭on juge » (Act of Passion)
"Les Anneaux de Bic괲e" (The Bells of Bic괲e- aka :
The Patient)
A good start.
There are at least 5 to 10 more books which are
amongst the best part of his though novels.
Hope this will help.
E.Borgers
POLAR NOIR
http://www.geocities.com/geocities
mburch5717@AOL.com
I
just finished Georges Simenon's 'The Man Who Watched Trains
Go By' and it was terrific. It's one of his 'Roman Durs'
which I think translates roughly as tough novel. It's an
extraordinary book, more existential and powerful than
Camus's 'The Stranger' in many ways?and every bit as tough
and noir as something by Jim Thompson but in?it's own?very
distinctive fashion.
It's made me go out and buy a bunch more of these tough
novels by Simenon. Thanks to New York Review Books there's
something like half a dozen different titles in print in very
handsome paperback editions.
And this is only the tip of a very large iceberg: Simenon
wrote some 117 of these hardboiled/noir novels and
apparently?they're all pretty good!
What an extraordinary find. It's like discovering a new
continent or planet. ??
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