Georges Joseph Christian Simenon (French: [ʒɔʁʒ simnɔ̃]; 12/13 February 1903 – 4 September 1989) was a Belgian writer, most famous for his fictional detective Jules Maigret. He was one of the most popular authors of the 20th century, selling over 500 million copies of his works during his lifetime. Apart from his detective fiction, he achieved critical acclaim for his literary novels which he called romans durs (hard novels). Among his literary admirers were Max Jacob, François Mauriac and André Gide.Marnham (1994). pp. 173-4 Gide wrote, "I consider Simenon a great novelist, the greatest perhaps, and the most truly a novelist that we have had in contemporary French literature."
Simenon's published works include 192 novels written under his own name, over 200 novels written under various pseudonyms, four autobiographies and 21 volumes of memoirs. He also wrote a large quantity of short fiction.
Classification Simenon's fiction is often classified into his early pseudonymous popular novels, the last of which was written in 1933;Marnham (1994) p. 147 his fiction featuring police commissioner Jules Maigret (75 novels and 28 short stories); and his 117 literary novels (romans durs).Marnham (1994). pp. 147, 329 Simenon's short fiction is usually classified into his Maigret stories and other short fiction. Simenon also wrote travel stories which straddle the boundary between fiction and non-fiction. His non-fiction includes autobiographical writings, travel writing, essays, journalism and published lectures.Marnham (1994). pp. 333-4
The following partial bibliography includes only those works which were first published under Simenon's own name.Simenon wrote around 200 novels and at least 1,000 short stories under various pseudonyms. The exact number is unknown and few have been translated into English. Alavoine (1998). p. 94; Forshaw (2022). pp. 56-60 The works are listed in order of their first French publication in commercial editions. French title and year of first publication is given first, followed by English translations where applicable. The first English translations printed in book form in British and American commercial editions are listed, as are the first editions of subsequent translations, and English translations currently in print where known.
Unless otherwise specified, the sources for the French title and publication date are Bernard Alavoine, Trudee Young, Tout Simenon and Tout Maigret. The sources for the publication details of English translations are Trudee Young, Barry Forshaw, Patrick Marnham,Marnham, Patrick (1994). pp. 326-334 Penguin UK and the individual works cited.
Novels
Maigret series +French titleYear ofFrench publicationSelected English translationsPublication details of English translations from 1976 to 2012 are from the title pages of the individual works cited.Pietr-le-Letton1930First serialised in Ric and Rac magazine from July to October 1930. Marnham (1994). p. 132. The Strange Case of Peter the Lett. New York: Covici, Friede. 1933 The Case of Peter the Lett. Tr. Abbott, Anthony. London: Hurst and Blackett. 1933 Maigret and the Enigmatic Lett. Tr. Woodward, Daphne. Harmondsworth: Penguin. 1963. M. Gallet, décédé1931 The Death of Monsieur Gallet. New York: Covici, Friede. 1932. The Death of Monsieur Gallet. Tr. Abbott, Anthony. London: Hurst and Blackett. 1933. Maigret Stonewalled. Tr. Marshall, Margaret. Harmondsworth: Penguin. 1963 Le pendu de St Pholien1931 The Crime of Inspector Maigret. Tr. Anthony Abbot. London: Hurst and Blackett. 1933; New York. Covici, Friede.1933 Maigret and the Hundred Gibbets. Tr. White, Tony. Baltimore, Harmondsworth: Penguin. 1963 Le charretier de La Providence1931 The Crime at Lock 14. London: Hurst and Blackett. 1934; New York: Covici, Friede. 1934 Maigret Meets a Milord. Tr. Baldick, Robert. Baltimore, Harmondsworth: Penguin. 1963 Lock 14. Tr. Baldick, Robert. UK: Penguin. 2003 Le chien jaune1931 A Face for a Clue. Tr. Sainsbury, Geoffrey. London: George Routledge & Sons. 1939.; New York: Harcourt, Brace, & Co. 1940 Maigret and the Yellow Dog. Tr. Linda Asher. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. 1987 La nuit du carrefour1931 The Crossroad Murders. Tr. Abbott, Anthony. London. Hurst and Blackett. 1933; New York: Covici, Friede. 1933. Maigret at the Crossroads. Tr. Baldick, Robert. Harmondsworth: Penguin. 1963. Un crime en Hollande1931 A Crime in Holland. Tr. Sainsbury, Geoffrey. London: George Routledge & Sons. 1940.; New York: Harcourt, Brace & Co. 1950. Au Rendez-vous des Terre-Neuvas1931 The Sailors' Rendezvous. Trs. Margaret Ludwig. London: George Routledge & Son. 1940.; New York: Harcourt, Brace & Co. 1941. La tête d'un homme1931 A Battle of Nerves. Tr. Sainsbury, Geoffrey. London: George Routledge & Sons. 1939; New York: Harcourt, Brace & Co. 1940 La danseuse du Gai-Moulin1931 At the "Gai-Moulin". Trs. Sainsbury, Geoffrey. London: George Routledge & Sons. 1940.; New York: Harcourt, Brace & Co. 1940. La guinguette à deux sous1932 The Guinguette by the Seine. Tr. Sainsbury, Geoffrey. London: George Routledge & Sons. 1940.; New York: Harcourt, Brace & Co. 1940 The Bar on the Seine. Tr. David Watson. UK: Penguin Classics. 2003 L'ombre chinoise1932 The Shadow in the Courtyard. Tr. (anon.) London. Hurst and Blackett. 1934.; New York: Covici, Friede. 1934. Maigret Mystified. Tr. Stewart, Jean. Harmondsworth: Penguin. 1964. L'affaire Saint-Fiacre1932 The Saint-Fiacre Affair. Tr. Margaret Ludwig. London: George Routledge & Sons. 1940; New York: Harcourt, Brace & Co. 1941. Maigret Goes Home. Tr. Baldick, Robert. Harmondsworth: Penguin. 1967. Chez les Flamands1932 The Flemish Shop. Tr. Sainsbury, Geoffrey. London: George Routledge & Sons. 1940.; New York: Harcourt, Brace & Co. 1940. Le fou de Bergerac1932 The Madman of Bergerac. Tr. Sainsbury, Geoffrey. London: George Routledge & Sons. 1940.; New York: Harcourt, Brace & Co. 1940. Le port des brumes1932 Death of a Harbour Master. Tr. Gilbert, Stuart. London: George Routledge & Sons. 1941. Death of a Harbor Master. Tr. Gilbert, Stuart. New York: Harcourt, Brace & Co. 1941. Liberty Bar1932 Liberty Bar. Tr. Sainsbury, Geoffrey. London: George Routledge & Sons. 1940.; New York: Harcourt, Brace & Co. 1940. Maigret on the Riviera. Tr. Sainsbury, Geoffrey. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. 1988. L'ecluse n° 11933 The Lock at Charenton. Tr. Margaret Ludwig. London: George Routledge & Sons. 1941; New York: Harcourt, Brace & Co. 1941. Maigret1934 Maigret Returns. Tr. Margaret Ludwig. London: George Routledge & Sons. 1941; New York: Harcourt, Brace & Co. 1941. Cécile est morte1942 Maigret and the Spinster. Tr. Ellenbogen, Eileen. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1977. Les caves du Majestic1942 Maigret and the Hotel Majestic. Tr. Caroline Hillier. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1977. La maison du juge1942 Maigret in Exile. Tr. Ellenbogen, Eileen. Hamish Hamilton. London. 1978. The Judge's House. Translated by Curtis, Howard. UK: Penguin Classics. 2015. .Signé Picpus1944 To Any Lengths. Tr. Sainsbury, Geoffrey. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. 1950. L'inspecteur Cadavre1944 Maigret's Rival. Tr. Helen Thomson. London: Hamish Hamilton.1979. Félicie est là1944 Maigret and the Toy Village. Tr. Ellenbogen, Eileen. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1978. Maigret se fâche1944 Maigret in Retirement. Tr. Stewart, Jean. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. New York. 1976. Maigret à New York1947 Maigret in New York's Underworld. Tr. Foulke, Adrienne. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday. 1950. Les vacances de Maigret1948 Maigret on Holiday. Tr. Sainsbury, Geoffrey. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. 1950. No Vacation for Maigret. Tr. Sainsbury, Geoffrey. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday. 1953. Maigret et son mort1948 Maigret's Special Murder. Tr. Stewart, Jean. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1964. Maigret's Dead Man. Tr. Stewart, Jean. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday. 1964. La première enquête de Maigret1949 Maigret's First Case. Tr. Brain, Robert. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1958. Mon ami Maigret1949 My Friend Maigret. Tr. Ryan, Nigel. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1956. The Methods of Maigret. Tr. Ryan, Nigel. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday. 1957. Maigret chez le coroner1949 Maigret and the Coroner. Tr. Frances Keene. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1980. Maigret et la vieille Dame1950 Maigret and the Old Lady. Tr. Brain, Robert. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1958. L'amie de Mme Maigret1950 Madame Maigret's Own Case. Tr. Sebba, Helen. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday. 1959. Madame Maigret's Friend. Tr. Sebba, Helen. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1960. Les mémoires de Maigret1951 Maigret's Memoirs. Tr. Stewart, Jean. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1963 Maigret au Picratt's1951 Maigret in Montmartre. Tr. Woodward, Daphne. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1954. Inspector Maigret and the Strangled Stripper. Tr. Schaeffer, Cornelia. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday. 1954. Maigret en meublé1951 Maigret Takes a Room. Tr. Brain, Robert. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1960. Maigret Rents a Room. Tr. Brain, Robert. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday. 1961. Maigret et la Grande Perche1951 Maigret and the Burglar's Wife. Tr. J. Maclaren-Ross. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1955. Inspector Maigret and the Burglar's Wife. Tr. J. Maclaren-Ross. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday. 1956. Maigret, Longon et les gangsters1951 Maigret and the Gangsters. Tr. Varèse, Louise. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1974. Inspector Maigret and the Killers. Tr. Varèse, Louise. Garden City, N. Y.: Doubleday. 1954. Le revolver de Maigret1952 Maigret's Revolver. Tr. Ryan, Nigel. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1956. Maigret et l'homme du banc1953 Maigret and the Man on the Boulevard. Tr. Ellenbogen, Eileen. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1975. Maigret a peur1953 Maigret Afraid. Tr. Margaret Duff. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1961. Maigret se trompe1953 Maigret's Mistake. Tr. Alan Hodge. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1954. Maigret à l'ecole1954 Maigret Goes to School. Tr. Woodward, Daphne. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1957. Maigret et la jeune morte1954 Maigret and the Young Girl. Tr. Woodward, Daphne. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1955. Inspector Maigret and the Dead Girl. Tr. Woodward, Daphne. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday. 1955. Maigret chez le ministre1955 Maigret and the Minister. Tr. Budberg, Moura. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1969. Maigret and the Calame Report. Tr. Budberg, Moura. New York: Harcourt Brace & World. 1969. Maigret et le corps sans tête1955 Maigret and the Headless Corps. Tr. Ellenbogen, Eileen. London. Hamish Hamilton. 1967. Maigret and the Headless Corps. Tr. Ellenbogen, Eileen. New York: Harcourt Brace & World. 1968. Maigret tend un piège1955 Maigret Sets a Trap. Tr. Woodward, Daphne. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1965. Maigret Sets a Trap. Tr. Woodward, Daphne. New York: Harcourt Brace & World. 1972. Un échec de Maigret1956 Maigret's Failure. Tr. Woodward, Daphne. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1962. Maigret s'amuse1957 Maigret's Little Joke. Tr. Brain, Richard. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1957. None of Maigret's Business. Tr. Brain, Richard. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday. 1958. Maigret voyage1957 Maigret and the Millionaires. Tr. Stewart, Jean. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1974. Maigret and the Millionaires. Tr. Stewart, Jean. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. 1974 Les scrupules de Maigret1958 Maigret Has Scruples. Tr. Eglesfield, Robert. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1959. Maigret et les temoins récalcitrants1959 Maigret and the Reluctant Witnesses. Tr. Woodward, Daphne. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1959. Une confidence de Maigret1959 Maigret has Doubts. Tr. Moir, Lyn. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1968. Maigret aux assises1960 Maigret in Court. Tr. Brain, Robert. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1961. Maigret et les vieillards1960 Maigret in Society. Tr. Eglesfield, Robert. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1962. Maigret et le voleur paresseux1961 Maigret and the Lazy Burglar. Tr. Woodward, Daphne. London: Hamish Hamilton. 1963.