Comments on: Reviewed by David L. Vineyard: GEORGES SIMENON – Maigret and the Enigmatic Lett. http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=1677 Devoted to mystery and detective fiction -- the books, the films, the authors, and those who read, watch, collect and make annotated lists of them. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:35:11 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: David Vineyard http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=1677#comment-175209 David Vineyard Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:23:45 +0000 http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=1677#comment-175209 Davies grew into the role of Maigret over a fairly long run, and a quite large number of actors have played the role from Charles Laughton and Richard Harris to Jean Gabin (probably the best) and Michael Gambon. The longest running German television Maigret was very popular and nothing at all like the character in the books, so it isn't always the physical character that matters. The long running Davies series was much loved and extremely popular, and often cited as one of the best incarnations of the character on screen. Davies also played another major series character. He appears briefly as George Smiley in The Spy Who Came in From the Cold with Richard Burton. Re Maigret it may take one or two to get into the swing of things, but you can pretty much jump in anywhere. For all their literary merits --- which are considerable --- they are also entertaining, and odd to say comfortable. You find yourself drawn to Maigret's world the way you sometimes return to Sherlock Holmes or Father Brown not just to be entertained but as if you are returning home. It sounds a bit strange, but there is something very reassuring about reading Maigret and visiting his cold wet somewhat grimy Paris. It's is very close to the feeling you get in Holmes foggy London where it is always 1895. Maigret and his world are a timeless place that you may well find addictive. In any case he is the most human of the great detectives, perhaps the only one you would really feel comfortable having a drink with in some small brasserie in Paris. That in itself is a major accomplishment. Most of the great sleuths are great creations, but not really human beings --- Maigret is above all massively human. Davies grew into the role of Maigret over a fairly long run, and a quite large number of actors have played the role from Charles Laughton and Richard Harris to Jean Gabin (probably the best) and Michael Gambon. The longest running German television Maigret was very popular and nothing at all like the character in the books, so it isn’t always the physical character that matters.

The long running Davies series was much loved and extremely popular, and often cited as one of the best incarnations of the character on screen.

Davies also played another major series character. He appears briefly as George Smiley in The Spy Who Came in From the Cold with Richard Burton.

Re Maigret it may take one or two to get into the swing of things, but you can pretty much jump in anywhere. For all their literary merits — which are considerable — they are also entertaining, and odd to say comfortable.

You find yourself drawn to Maigret’s world the way you sometimes return to Sherlock Holmes or Father Brown not just to be entertained but as if you are returning home.

It sounds a bit strange, but there is something very reassuring about reading Maigret and visiting his cold wet somewhat grimy Paris. It’s is very close to the feeling you get in Holmes foggy London where it is always 1895. Maigret and his world are a timeless place that you may well find addictive.

In any case he is the most human of the great detectives, perhaps the only one you would really feel comfortable having a drink with in some small brasserie in Paris. That in itself is a major accomplishment. Most of the great sleuths are great creations, but not really human beings — Maigret is above all massively human.

]]> By: Steve http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=1677#comment-175191 Steve Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:35:04 +0000 http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=1677#comment-175191 I've neglected Inspector Maigret badly over the years, and review/essays like this only convince me all the more what a dunderhead I've been. I don't know if I own this one, but being Maigret's first case, if I can find a copy, I think I might as well start with number one. Incidentally, David, I obviously also don't know much about the various TV adaptations of the Maigret stories, but if I've correctly identified Rupert Davies in the photo I used in the post above, all I can say is that he looks NOTHING like the Inspector Maigret I have pictured in my mind's eye. -- Steve I’ve neglected Inspector Maigret badly over the years, and review/essays like this only convince me all the more what a dunderhead I’ve been.

I don’t know if I own this one, but being Maigret’s first case, if I can find a copy, I think I might as well start with number one.

Incidentally, David, I obviously also don’t know much about the various TV adaptations of the Maigret stories, but if I’ve correctly identified Rupert Davies in the photo I used in the post above, all I can say is that he looks NOTHING like the Inspector Maigret I have pictured in my mind’s eye.

— Steve

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