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Inspector Maigret #44
Maigret Goes to School
Maigret becomes entangled in the dramas of a small town on his quest to solve the murder of their former postmistress. The forty-fourth book in the new Penguin Maigret series.
Maigret is called from his usual duties in Paris to investigate a murder in a small village located close to La Rochelle. A local postmistress has been killed and suspicion has fallen on the local schoolmaster. When Maigret gets there, he discovers a very inward-looking community of people who hated the victim because she knew all their secrets. Maigret must determine if one of those secrets was enough to make someone into a killer.
Maigret is called from his usual duties in Paris to investigate a murder in a small village located close to La Rochelle. A local postmistress has been killed and suspicion has fallen on the local schoolmaster. When Maigret gets there, he discovers a very inward-looking community of people who hated the victim because she knew all their secrets. Maigret must determine if one of those secrets was enough to make someone into a killer.
184 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1954
207 people are currently reading
504 people want to read
About the author
Georges Simenon
2,733 books2,288 followersGeorges Joseph Christian Simenon (1903 – 1989) was a Belgian writer. A prolific author who published nearly 500 novels and numerous short works, Simenon is best known as the creator of the fictional detective Jules Maigret.
Although he never resided in Belgium after 1922, he remained a Belgian citizen throughout his life.
Simenon was one of the most prolific writers of the twentieth century, capable of writing 60 to 80 pages per day. His oeuvre includes nearly 200 novels, over 150 novellas, several autobiographical works, numerous articles, and scores of pulp novels written under more than two dozen pseudonyms. Altogether, about 550 million copies of his works have been printed.
He is best known, however, for his 75 novels and 28 short stories featuring Commissaire Maigret. The first novel in the series, Pietr-le-Letton, appeared in 1931; the last one, Maigret et M. Charles, was published in 1972. The Maigret novels were translated into all major languages and several of them were turned into films and radio plays. Two television series (1960-63 and 1992-93) have been made in Great Britain.
During his "American" period, Simenon reached the height of his creative powers, and several novels of those years were inspired by the context in which they were written (Trois chambres à Manhattan (1946), Maigret à New York (1947), Maigret se fâche (1947)).
Simenon also wrote a large number of "psychological novels", such as La neige était sale (1948) or Le fils (1957), as well as several autobiographical works, in particular Je me souviens (1945), Pedigree (1948), Mémoires intimes (1981).
In 1966, Simenon was given the MWA's highest honor, the Grand Master Award.
In 2005 he was nominated for the title of De Grootste Belg (The Greatest Belgian). In the Flemish version he ended 77th place. In the Walloon version he ended 10th place.
Although he never resided in Belgium after 1922, he remained a Belgian citizen throughout his life.
Simenon was one of the most prolific writers of the twentieth century, capable of writing 60 to 80 pages per day. His oeuvre includes nearly 200 novels, over 150 novellas, several autobiographical works, numerous articles, and scores of pulp novels written under more than two dozen pseudonyms. Altogether, about 550 million copies of his works have been printed.
He is best known, however, for his 75 novels and 28 short stories featuring Commissaire Maigret. The first novel in the series, Pietr-le-Letton, appeared in 1931; the last one, Maigret et M. Charles, was published in 1972. The Maigret novels were translated into all major languages and several of them were turned into films and radio plays. Two television series (1960-63 and 1992-93) have been made in Great Britain.
During his "American" period, Simenon reached the height of his creative powers, and several novels of those years were inspired by the context in which they were written (Trois chambres à Manhattan (1946), Maigret à New York (1947), Maigret se fâche (1947)).
Simenon also wrote a large number of "psychological novels", such as La neige était sale (1948) or Le fils (1957), as well as several autobiographical works, in particular Je me souviens (1945), Pedigree (1948), Mémoires intimes (1981).
In 1966, Simenon was given the MWA's highest honor, the Grand Master Award.
In 2005 he was nominated for the title of De Grootste Belg (The Greatest Belgian). In the Flemish version he ended 77th place. In the Walloon version he ended 10th place.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
April 11, 2023
April Lunchtime listen on Audiobook
One of the excellent Maigret's as opposed to the just "really good".
This investigation starts with a man waiting in the big glass office at the Quai Des Orfèvres for Maigret to arrive at his office one morning. When he eventually interviews the man it transpires that he is a teacher from a small coastal village in the Charente who has travelled overnight to Paris to appeal to Maigret because he thinks he will soon be arrested for murder.
With not very much on his plate and a hankering for the crisp white wine from the Charente and a plate of oysters, maigret decides to escort the man back to his village and unofficially take a look at the case. Mrs Maigret packs him a case for a few days and he is off by train escorting the man who is arrested as they arrive at La Rochelle station. Staying in the tiny Inn in the nearby village Maigret talks to as many villagers as possible all of whom hated the murdered woman, but feel the teacher must be guilty as him and his family are not locals.
Recognising many characters from his own village upbringing , Maigret soon gets to grip with the main players:- the deputy mayor, the doctor, the local policeman, the butcher and many others who mostly gather in the small bar of the Inn where Maigret is staying to drink and play Belote of an evening .
With the permission of the local Lieutenant of Police who is a young man in awe of the great Maigret, a few interviews of the local pupils are arranged and Maigret soon realises that some of them are lying but maybe not maliciously. Breaking down alibis, Maigret is, despite the scorn from some of the locals , able to point to the murderer and to show how the hated old woman was murdered.
Despite enjoying numerous carafes of the white wine, heading back to Paris , he muses on the fact he never did get his oysters.
Excellent book (as ever well read), that really shows what French village life is all about, and given I lived in a tiny French Hamlet 10 or so years ago, I can testify has not changed at all.
One of the excellent Maigret's as opposed to the just "really good".
This investigation starts with a man waiting in the big glass office at the Quai Des Orfèvres for Maigret to arrive at his office one morning. When he eventually interviews the man it transpires that he is a teacher from a small coastal village in the Charente who has travelled overnight to Paris to appeal to Maigret because he thinks he will soon be arrested for murder.
With not very much on his plate and a hankering for the crisp white wine from the Charente and a plate of oysters, maigret decides to escort the man back to his village and unofficially take a look at the case. Mrs Maigret packs him a case for a few days and he is off by train escorting the man who is arrested as they arrive at La Rochelle station. Staying in the tiny Inn in the nearby village Maigret talks to as many villagers as possible all of whom hated the murdered woman, but feel the teacher must be guilty as him and his family are not locals.
Recognising many characters from his own village upbringing , Maigret soon gets to grip with the main players:- the deputy mayor, the doctor, the local policeman, the butcher and many others who mostly gather in the small bar of the Inn where Maigret is staying to drink and play Belote of an evening .
With the permission of the local Lieutenant of Police who is a young man in awe of the great Maigret, a few interviews of the local pupils are arranged and Maigret soon realises that some of them are lying but maybe not maliciously. Breaking down alibis, Maigret is, despite the scorn from some of the locals , able to point to the murderer and to show how the hated old woman was murdered.
Despite enjoying numerous carafes of the white wine, heading back to Paris , he muses on the fact he never did get his oysters.
Excellent book (as ever well read), that really shows what French village life is all about, and given I lived in a tiny French Hamlet 10 or so years ago, I can testify has not changed at all.
June 24, 2023
Maigret and the Secretive Village
Review of the Penguin Classics paperback (October 2018) of a new translation* by Linda Coverdale of the French language original "Maigret à l'école" (1954)
A school teacher from a coastal village appears in Chief Inspector Maigret's office at Quai des Orfèvres and begs for his assistance. A retired ex-post mistress in the village has been murdered and, although she was hated by the entire village, the teacher is also disliked as he and his family are outsiders. Maigret remembers with fondness meals of oysters and white wine during an earlier seaside trip and agrees to return to the town with the teacher and to try to clear his name.
Arriving at the village Maigret learns that he is unlikely to enjoy a meal of oysters, but he persists in the case regardless. He soon discovers that the ex-postmistress was a snoop who knew the secrets of the villagers, having read their mail. The entire village appears to have closed ranks to blame the schoolteacher due to him not being one of their own. The solution seems to centre on children in the school class, one of whom is the prime witness against the teacher. But are they telling the truth or are they lying for some mysterious reason of their own?
The cover of the original French language edition of "Maigret à l'école" as published by Presses de la Cité, France 1954. Image sourced from Maigret of the Month.
During a 2022 mini-binge I read a couple of dozen of the (mostly early) Maigret novellas and then about a half-dozen of Simenon's non-Maigret romans durs (French: hard novels). I'm reading a few more of the Maigrets in 2023 as I found a bunch of them in cutout sales at my local Book City stores.
In a rarity for completists, this is Maigret #44 in both the recent Penguin Classics Series of new translations (2013-2019) of the Inspector Maigret novels and in the previous standard Maigret Series Listopia as listed on Goodreads.
Rowan Atkinson as Inspector Maigret in the most recent television adaptation of Maigret which only aired for 4 episodes in 2016-17. Playing against his standard comic stereotypes, Atkinson was actually quite excellent in the role. Image sourced from an article at Radio Times, which says that a possible future Maigret reboot series is in the works.
Footnote, Trivia and Links
* The earlier English translation (Hamish Hamilton 1957) by Daphne Woodward & its later reprints also gave the title as Maigret Goes to School.
There is extensive background and a detailed plot description (spoilers obviously) about Maigret Goes to School at Maigret of the Month.
Maigret Goes to School has been adapted three times for television:
The first adaptation was as Series 1 Episode 13 (1971) of the long-running French language series Les enquêtes du commissaire Maigret (1967-1990) starring Jean Richard as Inspector Maigret.
The second adaptation was as Series 1 Episode 3 (1992) of the English language television series of Maigret (1992-1993) starring Michel Gambon as Inspector Maigret.
The third adaptation was as Series 12 Episode 1 (2002) of the French language reboot series of Maigret (1991-2005) starring Bruno Cremer as Inspector Maigret.
There is an article about the Penguin Classics re-translations of the Inspector Maigret novels at Maigret, the Enduring Appeal of the Parisian Sleuth by Paddy Kehoe, RTE, August 17, 2019.
Review of the Penguin Classics paperback (October 2018) of a new translation* by Linda Coverdale of the French language original "Maigret à l'école" (1954)
"What would you like to eat, Chief Inspector?"
"Do you have oysters?"
"Not during the neap-tide."
"How long will that last?"
"Another five or six days."
Since Paris, he'd been thinking of eating oysters and drinking white wine, and now he probably wasn't going to get any during his stay.
A school teacher from a coastal village appears in Chief Inspector Maigret's office at Quai des Orfèvres and begs for his assistance. A retired ex-post mistress in the village has been murdered and, although she was hated by the entire village, the teacher is also disliked as he and his family are outsiders. Maigret remembers with fondness meals of oysters and white wine during an earlier seaside trip and agrees to return to the town with the teacher and to try to clear his name.
Arriving at the village Maigret learns that he is unlikely to enjoy a meal of oysters, but he persists in the case regardless. He soon discovers that the ex-postmistress was a snoop who knew the secrets of the villagers, having read their mail. The entire village appears to have closed ranks to blame the schoolteacher due to him not being one of their own. The solution seems to centre on children in the school class, one of whom is the prime witness against the teacher. But are they telling the truth or are they lying for some mysterious reason of their own?
The cover of the original French language edition of "Maigret à l'école" as published by Presses de la Cité, France 1954. Image sourced from Maigret of the Month.
During a 2022 mini-binge I read a couple of dozen of the (mostly early) Maigret novellas and then about a half-dozen of Simenon's non-Maigret romans durs (French: hard novels). I'm reading a few more of the Maigrets in 2023 as I found a bunch of them in cutout sales at my local Book City stores.
In a rarity for completists, this is Maigret #44 in both the recent Penguin Classics Series of new translations (2013-2019) of the Inspector Maigret novels and in the previous standard Maigret Series Listopia as listed on Goodreads.
Rowan Atkinson as Inspector Maigret in the most recent television adaptation of Maigret which only aired for 4 episodes in 2016-17. Playing against his standard comic stereotypes, Atkinson was actually quite excellent in the role. Image sourced from an article at Radio Times, which says that a possible future Maigret reboot series is in the works.
Footnote, Trivia and Links
* The earlier English translation (Hamish Hamilton 1957) by Daphne Woodward & its later reprints also gave the title as Maigret Goes to School.
There is extensive background and a detailed plot description (spoilers obviously) about Maigret Goes to School at Maigret of the Month.
Maigret Goes to School has been adapted three times for television:
The first adaptation was as Series 1 Episode 13 (1971) of the long-running French language series Les enquêtes du commissaire Maigret (1967-1990) starring Jean Richard as Inspector Maigret.
The second adaptation was as Series 1 Episode 3 (1992) of the English language television series of Maigret (1992-1993) starring Michel Gambon as Inspector Maigret.
The third adaptation was as Series 12 Episode 1 (2002) of the French language reboot series of Maigret (1991-2005) starring Bruno Cremer as Inspector Maigret.
There is an article about the Penguin Classics re-translations of the Inspector Maigret novels at Maigret, the Enduring Appeal of the Parisian Sleuth by Paddy Kehoe, RTE, August 17, 2019.
June 18, 2025
As usual in Maigret stories, the plot is somehow less important than the characters or the describing of the atmosphere.
You can " see" life in a village, the local pub, the habits (almost everyone has a black suit, as you have to go to funerals quite often...), the kids and their favorite sports and, most of all, the mentality in a small community.
So this one is more a psychological novel, rather than a policier. Nothing new for Mr. Simenon...
You can " see" life in a village, the local pub, the habits (almost everyone has a black suit, as you have to go to funerals quite often...), the kids and their favorite sports and, most of all, the mentality in a small community.
So this one is more a psychological novel, rather than a policier. Nothing new for Mr. Simenon...
June 23, 2017
A typical Maigret novel set outside Paris and based in a small close knit community.
Maigret feeling Summer is perhaps here decides to leave the capital drawn to a village by the sea by a teacher who fears he is to be arrested for a murder he didn't commit.
Full of characters and people set in their ways with a deep distrust of outsiders. The arrival of a high ranking policeman from Paris is met with some ridicule when the local officers have already made an arrest.
With little forensic evidence and a victim seemingly universally despised by all. Maigret is left to rely on observation and careful questioning. But even here he seems out of his death as much of the evidence is based on what the teacher's class witnessed. The chief inspector feels at times that asking children questions feels more arduous than an all night session back in Paris.
Lovely comic and humorous observations with Maigret being reminded of his own rural upbringing. A fine book, a story beautifully told and a delight to read.
Maigret feeling Summer is perhaps here decides to leave the capital drawn to a village by the sea by a teacher who fears he is to be arrested for a murder he didn't commit.
Full of characters and people set in their ways with a deep distrust of outsiders. The arrival of a high ranking policeman from Paris is met with some ridicule when the local officers have already made an arrest.
With little forensic evidence and a victim seemingly universally despised by all. Maigret is left to rely on observation and careful questioning. But even here he seems out of his death as much of the evidence is based on what the teacher's class witnessed. The chief inspector feels at times that asking children questions feels more arduous than an all night session back in Paris.
Lovely comic and humorous observations with Maigret being reminded of his own rural upbringing. A fine book, a story beautifully told and a delight to read.
July 13, 2019
This is the second Maigret I have read and I enjoyed it very much. A light read but beautifully written with an engaging character at the center of it all. I will continue reading the series to be with this character as well as enjoy the imagery and precision of the sentences.
November 1, 2023
Maigret heads to a small town near La Rochelle to solve a death by shooting through a window overlooking a school playground. The premise is intriguing and the story enjoyable, however, as is generally the case with Maigret, the element of mystery is lacking. Nevertheless, a decent drama showing the reader life in 1950s rural France. Maigret's hankering for oysters is perhaps the highlight of the story.
October 7, 2020
Another quick read in this series. A school teacher waited all day to speak to Maigret. The teacher had come in from the country to profess his innocence to a murder the townspeople were sure he had committed, though nothing yet official. Although Maigret had no jurisdiction in the matter, the teacher's plea so interested him that he decided to take a few days off and see what he could learn. Oh, of course, for Maigret, not just an interesting case, but the small town also lay near the oyster beds. Maigret thought he'd like nothing better than to have a meal of oysters and white wine. His mouth was just set for such a meal, which we are reminded about more than once.
Maigret observes the townspeople, talks with several, only some of whom are forthcoming. Maigret needs to decide who might have something to hide, who might be lying outright. Isn't that the way with these detective novels? I enjoyed the little reading time spent. I can rave about the series (which for me is a strong 4-stars), but perhaps no single installment is more than a good 3-stars. This is no exception.
Maigret observes the townspeople, talks with several, only some of whom are forthcoming. Maigret needs to decide who might have something to hide, who might be lying outright. Isn't that the way with these detective novels? I enjoyed the little reading time spent. I can rave about the series (which for me is a strong 4-stars), but perhaps no single installment is more than a good 3-stars. This is no exception.
July 7, 2024
Iespējams, noziegums tā arī netiktu atklāts, ja tajā rītā Megrē [pavasara spirgtā gaisa, kas atgādina atdzesētu baltvīnu, ietekmē] nedotos līdzi skolotājam Žozefam Gastēnam uz mazu ciematu okeāna piekrastē netālu no Larošelas. Skolotājs ciematā ir ienācējs, tāpēc viņu ir visvienkāršāk vainot vecas kundzes nāvē. Bet vai patiešām Gastēns ir vainīgs?
Nesteidzīgs klasiskais detektīvs, kur slepkava tiek noķerts bez pakaļdzīšanās un šaušanas.
Nesteidzīgs klasiskais detektīvs, kur slepkava tiek noķerts bez pakaļdzīšanās un šaušanas.
January 9, 2020
From TIA:
When a school teacher from a small coastal town near La Rochelle asks Maigret to help prove he is innocent of murder, the Inspector returns with him to his insular community and finds the residents closing ranks to conceal the truth.
Adapted for radio by Edward Bruce.
Maurice Denham - Chief Inspector Jules Maigret
Michael Gough - Georges Simenon
Michael Spice - Joseph Gastin
Madi Hedd - Madame Gastin
Denise Bryer - Jean-Paul Gastin
Geoffrey Collins - Inspector Danielou
Ronald Herdman - Dr. Bresselles
Jean England - Marcel Sellier
Michael Harbour - Marcellin Rateau
Rosemary Miller - Joseph Rateau
Michael Goldie - Louis Paumelle
Shirley Dixon - Maria Smelker
Gavin Campbell - Ferdinand Cornu
Produced and directed by Betty Davies
https://archive.org/details/09Maigret...
2* Betty
4* Pietr the Latvian (Maigret, #1)
3* The Carter of 'La Providence' (Maigret, #2)
3* The Late Monsieur Gallet (Maigret, #3)
4* The Hanged Man of Saint-Pholien (Maigret, #4)
3* A Man's Head (Maigret #5)
4* The Yellow Dog (Maigret #6)
4* The Night at the Crossroads (Maigret #7)
2* A Crime in Holland (Maigret #8)
3* The Grand Banks Café (Maigret, #9)
3* The Dancer at the Gai-Moulin (Maigret #10)
3* The Two-Penny Bar (Maigret, #11)
3* The Saint-Fiacre Affair (Inspector Maigret #13)
4* The Misty Harbour (Maigret, #15)
4* Lock No. 1 (Maigret, #18)
4* The Cellars of the Majestic (Maigret, #20)
3* Inspector Cadaver (Maigret, #25)
3* Maigret Se Fache (Maigret, #26)
4* Maigret's Holiday (Maigret, #28)
4* La première enquête de Maigret (Maigret, #30)
4* My Friend Maigret (Maigret #31)
4* Maigret at the Coroner's (Maigret #32)
3* The Friend of Madame Maigret (Maigret #34)
3* Maigret and the Burglar's Wife (Maigret, #38)
3* Maigret's Mistake (Maigret, #43)
3* Maigret Goes to School (Maigret #44)
3* Maigret and the Calame Report (Maigret, #46)
3* Maigret si diverte (Maigret, #50)
3* Maigret in Court (Maigret, #55)
3* Maigret and the Old People (Maigret, #56)
3* Maigret and the Idle Burglar (Maigret, #57)
3* Maigret and the Bum (Maigret, #60)
4* Maigret Loses His Temper (Maigret, #61)
3* Maigret on the Defensive (Maigret, #63)
3* Maigret Bides His Time (Maigret #64)
3* Maigret Hesitates (Maigret, #68)
3* Maigret's Boyhood Friend (Maigret, #69)
3* Maigret and the Madwoman (Maigret, #72)
4* Maigret and the Loner (Maigret, #73)
TR The Shadow Puppet (Inspector Maigret #12)
TR The Flemish House (Maigret, #14)
TR The Madman of Bergerac (Inspector Maigret #16)
TR Liberty Bar (Maigret, #17)
TR Maigret (Maigret, #19)
TR The Judge's House (Maigret, #21)
TR Cécile is Dead (Maigret, #22)
TR Signed, Picpus (Maigret, #23)
TR Félicie (Maigret, #24)
TR Maigret à New York (Maigret, #27)
TR Il morto di Maigret (Maigret, #29)
TR Maigret et la Vieille Dame (Maigret, #33)
TR Le memorie di Maigret (Maigret #35)
TR Maigret in Montmartre (Maigret #36)
TR Maigret Rents a Room (Maigret #37)
TR Maigret and the Gangsters (Maigret #39)
TR Maigret's Revolver (Maigret #40)
TR Maigret and the Man on the Bench (Maigret #41)
TR Maigret Afraid (Maigret #42)
TR Maigret et la jeune morte (Maigret #45)
TR Maigret and the Headless Corpse (Maigret #47)
TR Maigret Sets a Trap (Maigret, #48)
TR Maigret's Failure (Maigret #49)
When a school teacher from a small coastal town near La Rochelle asks Maigret to help prove he is innocent of murder, the Inspector returns with him to his insular community and finds the residents closing ranks to conceal the truth.
Adapted for radio by Edward Bruce.
Maurice Denham - Chief Inspector Jules Maigret
Michael Gough - Georges Simenon
Michael Spice - Joseph Gastin
Madi Hedd - Madame Gastin
Denise Bryer - Jean-Paul Gastin
Geoffrey Collins - Inspector Danielou
Ronald Herdman - Dr. Bresselles
Jean England - Marcel Sellier
Michael Harbour - Marcellin Rateau
Rosemary Miller - Joseph Rateau
Michael Goldie - Louis Paumelle
Shirley Dixon - Maria Smelker
Gavin Campbell - Ferdinand Cornu
Produced and directed by Betty Davies
https://archive.org/details/09Maigret...
2* Betty
4* Pietr the Latvian (Maigret, #1)
3* The Carter of 'La Providence' (Maigret, #2)
3* The Late Monsieur Gallet (Maigret, #3)
4* The Hanged Man of Saint-Pholien (Maigret, #4)
3* A Man's Head (Maigret #5)
4* The Yellow Dog (Maigret #6)
4* The Night at the Crossroads (Maigret #7)
2* A Crime in Holland (Maigret #8)
3* The Grand Banks Café (Maigret, #9)
3* The Dancer at the Gai-Moulin (Maigret #10)
3* The Two-Penny Bar (Maigret, #11)
3* The Saint-Fiacre Affair (Inspector Maigret #13)
4* The Misty Harbour (Maigret, #15)
4* Lock No. 1 (Maigret, #18)
4* The Cellars of the Majestic (Maigret, #20)
3* Inspector Cadaver (Maigret, #25)
3* Maigret Se Fache (Maigret, #26)
4* Maigret's Holiday (Maigret, #28)
4* La première enquête de Maigret (Maigret, #30)
4* My Friend Maigret (Maigret #31)
4* Maigret at the Coroner's (Maigret #32)
3* The Friend of Madame Maigret (Maigret #34)
3* Maigret and the Burglar's Wife (Maigret, #38)
3* Maigret's Mistake (Maigret, #43)
3* Maigret Goes to School (Maigret #44)
3* Maigret and the Calame Report (Maigret, #46)
3* Maigret si diverte (Maigret, #50)
3* Maigret in Court (Maigret, #55)
3* Maigret and the Old People (Maigret, #56)
3* Maigret and the Idle Burglar (Maigret, #57)
3* Maigret and the Bum (Maigret, #60)
4* Maigret Loses His Temper (Maigret, #61)
3* Maigret on the Defensive (Maigret, #63)
3* Maigret Bides His Time (Maigret #64)
3* Maigret Hesitates (Maigret, #68)
3* Maigret's Boyhood Friend (Maigret, #69)
3* Maigret and the Madwoman (Maigret, #72)
4* Maigret and the Loner (Maigret, #73)
TR The Shadow Puppet (Inspector Maigret #12)
TR The Flemish House (Maigret, #14)
TR The Madman of Bergerac (Inspector Maigret #16)
TR Liberty Bar (Maigret, #17)
TR Maigret (Maigret, #19)
TR The Judge's House (Maigret, #21)
TR Cécile is Dead (Maigret, #22)
TR Signed, Picpus (Maigret, #23)
TR Félicie (Maigret, #24)
TR Maigret à New York (Maigret, #27)
TR Il morto di Maigret (Maigret, #29)
TR Maigret et la Vieille Dame (Maigret, #33)
TR Le memorie di Maigret (Maigret #35)
TR Maigret in Montmartre (Maigret #36)
TR Maigret Rents a Room (Maigret #37)
TR Maigret and the Gangsters (Maigret #39)
TR Maigret's Revolver (Maigret #40)
TR Maigret and the Man on the Bench (Maigret #41)
TR Maigret Afraid (Maigret #42)
TR Maigret et la jeune morte (Maigret #45)
TR Maigret and the Headless Corpse (Maigret #47)
TR Maigret Sets a Trap (Maigret, #48)
TR Maigret's Failure (Maigret #49)
May 17, 2021
Maigret kiszabadul Párizsból egy furcsa ügy miatt, és reménykedve várja a tengerparton töltött idő közben elfogyasztott fehérbort és osztrigát, ám ebből csak az egyik teljesül... A zárt közösségű kis falu tanítóját gyanúsítják a régi postáskisasszony meggyilkolásával, akit egyébként mindenki utált, és aki szintúgy utálta az egész falut. A zavaros ügyben szerepet kap egy maroknyi gyerek, akikkel Maigret-nek egész más hangot kell megütni a kihallgatáskor, egy örökkön borgőzös kocsma, és állandó vendégei: a hentes, a polgármester-helyettes, a postás..., aztán néhány ablak, pár liter fehérbor, és némi törkölypálinka meg konyak.
Bővebben a blogon: https://pupillaolvas.blogspot.com/202...
Bővebben a blogon: https://pupillaolvas.blogspot.com/202...
February 18, 2024
“Erano passati molti anni. Le strade si erano riempite di auto veloci. Corriere e camioncini avevano rimpiazzato i carretti. Un po’ ovunque c’erano sale cinematografiche. Avevano inventato la radio e molte altre cose. Eppure Maigret ritrovava qui i personaggi della sua infanzia, fissati nei loro atteggiamenti come in un’immagine oleografica.”
Ostriche e vino bianco! Ecco che cosa spinge Maigret a occuparsi del caso di un maestro di scuola accusato di avere ammazzato con un colpo di carabina la vecchia (e peraltro da tutti odiata) megera del villaggio. Oltre, certamente, alla convinzione che quel povero diavolo, un parigino emigrato in campagna, sia davvero innocente ma che, in quanto estraneo e mai integrato nell’asfittico ambiente paesano, sia considerato il capro espiatorio ideale. Tacitamente accusato da tutti e, ça va sans dire, difeso da nessuno.
Maigret fa le valigie, prende il treno e parte, e intanto: un po’ si culla nelle memorie della sua fanciullezza vissuta in borgo simile a quello in cui è accaduto il fattaccio e un altro po’ rincorre l’immaginaria ebbrezza di poter gustare in riva al mare un bel piatto di ostriche innaffiate da un buon bianco.
Ma di ostriche neanche l’ombra, non è stagione. Rimane l’ostinazione di ordinare ogni due per tre quei bicchieri di vino bianco che accompagneranno col loro ritmo ripetitivo questa nuova indagine, ma che di soddisfazione ne daranno ben poca.
Così il nostro commissario con la consueta meticolosa flemma osserva l’ambiente paesano e i suoi abitanti, compresi gli scolari del povero maestro detenuto, dal momento che è stata proprio la testimonianza di uno di loro a farlo finire in gattabuia.
Come al solito le cose non sono come sembrano e basta sollevare la cortina di silenzio e scavare dentro le reticenze dei ragazzi per arrivare infine alla squallida, mesta verità.
3.5
Ostriche e vino bianco! Ecco che cosa spinge Maigret a occuparsi del caso di un maestro di scuola accusato di avere ammazzato con un colpo di carabina la vecchia (e peraltro da tutti odiata) megera del villaggio. Oltre, certamente, alla convinzione che quel povero diavolo, un parigino emigrato in campagna, sia davvero innocente ma che, in quanto estraneo e mai integrato nell’asfittico ambiente paesano, sia considerato il capro espiatorio ideale. Tacitamente accusato da tutti e, ça va sans dire, difeso da nessuno.
Maigret fa le valigie, prende il treno e parte, e intanto: un po’ si culla nelle memorie della sua fanciullezza vissuta in borgo simile a quello in cui è accaduto il fattaccio e un altro po’ rincorre l’immaginaria ebbrezza di poter gustare in riva al mare un bel piatto di ostriche innaffiate da un buon bianco.
Ma di ostriche neanche l’ombra, non è stagione. Rimane l’ostinazione di ordinare ogni due per tre quei bicchieri di vino bianco che accompagneranno col loro ritmo ripetitivo questa nuova indagine, ma che di soddisfazione ne daranno ben poca.
Così il nostro commissario con la consueta meticolosa flemma osserva l’ambiente paesano e i suoi abitanti, compresi gli scolari del povero maestro detenuto, dal momento che è stata proprio la testimonianza di uno di loro a farlo finire in gattabuia.
Come al solito le cose non sono come sembrano e basta sollevare la cortina di silenzio e scavare dentro le reticenze dei ragazzi per arrivare infine alla squallida, mesta verità.
3.5
January 29, 2018
"Maigret Goes to School" is my first Georges Simenon book. I found 54 books written by him, of which this is number 44 and part of a series, it tells the tale of Paris Inspector Maigret being approached by a teacher who lives in a seaside town outside of La Rochelle. Fearing he will be charged with murder, the teacher travels to Paris seeking the assistance of the acclaimed Maigret. Maigret takes on the case, traveling to the small town where the teacher is jailed and the investigation to find the real killer quickly ensues. Old fashioned but still relevant, this novel is a quick and enjoyable read. Simenon easily captures the feeling of the tight-knit community who are in awe of Maigret but not forthcoming with information. Maigret is an interesting and intelligent character who proudly wears his notoriety:) and calmly goes about the business of solving the crime.
I will check out more from this series and recommend it to those who like a quiet, old fashioned style mystery.
I will check out more from this series and recommend it to those who like a quiet, old fashioned style mystery.
July 10, 2010
Inspector Maigret becomes more fascinating to me with each Simenon book I read. Unlike the detectives featured in other extensive series' (Poirot and Miss Marple, specificallly) he is a many-faceted man whose character is slowly unfolding for me with each book I read.
Instead of being entertained by the crime in the Simenon books, I am interested in Inspector Maigret. He evolves on the pages as a real person, not a curious caricature. This book presented him to me as a particularly unusual Chief Inspector: he picked up a murder case out of his urbane Paris jurisdiction because he learned of it on an exceptionally lovely spring day and wanted to travel to the murder locale to sample their local vintage and eat oysters. Knowing that kind of man is reason enough to pick up this book, is it not?
Instead of being entertained by the crime in the Simenon books, I am interested in Inspector Maigret. He evolves on the pages as a real person, not a curious caricature. This book presented him to me as a particularly unusual Chief Inspector: he picked up a murder case out of his urbane Paris jurisdiction because he learned of it on an exceptionally lovely spring day and wanted to travel to the murder locale to sample their local vintage and eat oysters. Knowing that kind of man is reason enough to pick up this book, is it not?
January 3, 2020
Una donna vecchia e cattiva viene uccisa in un piccolo paesino francese. Il maestro della scuola, unico “ straniero” , accusato dell’omicidio chiede l’aiuto di Maigret per arrivare alla verità. E il nostro commissario, più spinto dalla voglia di assaggiare le specialità del luogo innaffiandole con un buon vinello, che dal delitto in sé non si fa pregare molto, raggiungendo in breve tempo una soluzione sconcertante.
Un romanzo pulito, senza sbavature. Fa sempre piacere incontrare il caro Maigret.
Un romanzo pulito, senza sbavature. Fa sempre piacere incontrare il caro Maigret.
March 6, 2022
Cuánto me gusta Simenon y qué grande es su personaje de Maigret.
Una vez más deja en segundo plano el delito y la trama para deleitarnos con sus estudios sobre el individuo, sus razones y el entorno. Aquí nos sumerge en un ambiente de pueblo y nos va mostrando línea a línea lo acertado que es el dicho de "pueblo chico, infierno grande". Y de nuevo, al acabar, te mimetizas con el ánimo de Maigret y sientes ese punto de tristeza y nostalgia que él siente al acabar el caso. Pocos policías he conocido en la literatura con la empatía de este.
Me ha gustado mucho, como casi siempre.
Una vez más deja en segundo plano el delito y la trama para deleitarnos con sus estudios sobre el individuo, sus razones y el entorno. Aquí nos sumerge en un ambiente de pueblo y nos va mostrando línea a línea lo acertado que es el dicho de "pueblo chico, infierno grande". Y de nuevo, al acabar, te mimetizas con el ánimo de Maigret y sientes ese punto de tristeza y nostalgia que él siente al acabar el caso. Pocos policías he conocido en la literatura con la empatía de este.
Me ha gustado mucho, como casi siempre.
May 2, 2018
One of the very best 'out of Paris' Maigrets. Tempted by the prospects of fresh Spring oysters and white wine, Maigret allows himself a few days holiday to involve himself in the death by shooting with a child's lightweight rifle of the disliked retired postmistress of a small town in rural Charentes on the Atlantic coast of France.
A wonderful picture is created of the full range of characters in this environment, from the doctor and schoolteacher (on whom suspicion is conveniently landed), incomers and therefore distrusted, through the semi-respectable shopkeepers and traders, to the unsavoury others. Narrow-minded and doing their best to rub along, but cheat where they can, the world is one that Simenon , and his hero, themselves brought up in this environment, knew and portrayed so well.
Oh, and the crime, the mystery and the slow and brilliant unpicking of the truth by the subtle Maigret, this time with no support from his colleagues, is simply brilliant.
It won't spoil the story to reveal that Maigret, because of the neap tide, fails to get any oysters!
A wonderful picture is created of the full range of characters in this environment, from the doctor and schoolteacher (on whom suspicion is conveniently landed), incomers and therefore distrusted, through the semi-respectable shopkeepers and traders, to the unsavoury others. Narrow-minded and doing their best to rub along, but cheat where they can, the world is one that Simenon , and his hero, themselves brought up in this environment, knew and portrayed so well.
Oh, and the crime, the mystery and the slow and brilliant unpicking of the truth by the subtle Maigret, this time with no support from his colleagues, is simply brilliant.
It won't spoil the story to reveal that Maigret, because of the neap tide, fails to get any oysters!
October 17, 2019
Per Maigret, solo amore, niente critiche
April 19, 2018
Beleaguered schoolmaster Joseph Gastin, a Parisian relocated to the insular coastal town of Saint-André-sur-Mer, near La Rochelle, is considered an outsider — the perfect person for the inhabitants to blame for the murder of an irascible old lady. Detective Chief Inspector Maigret comes to Gastin’s aid knowing that he will have an uphill battle finding out what really happened, but the great man manages all the same. Like Maigret, readers early on realize that Gastin is no murderer; however, they’ll enjoy following Maigret as he conducts his painstaking investigation.
February 6, 2022
3.5 stars. Maigret investigates the killing of a retired local postmistress in a small village near La Rochelle. Suspicion has fallen on the local school teacher who is an outsider. There are good descriptions of a very inward looking community.
This book was first published in 1954. The 44th book in the Maigret series.
This book was first published in 1954. The 44th book in the Maigret series.
March 10, 2023
Un maestro viene additato dagli abitanti del villaggio, in cui si è trasferito e insegna, di aver ucciso una donna anziana che non sopportava nessuno e che nessuno, adulti e bambini, sopportava.
Il maestro chiede aiuto e protezione a Maigret che certo non si tira indietro; infatti accompagna di buon grado il maestro al suo villaggio ed inizia a muoversi nell’ambiente.
All’inizio vedeva i personaggi dall’esterno. Ne coglieva le piccole manie, ed era divertente. Poi a poco a poco si metteva nei loro panni, si chiedeva come mai si comportassero in quel modo o in quell’altro, si sorprendeva a pensare come loro, e questo era molto meno divertente.
Nel caso sono implicati, oltre al maestro, anche alcuni suoi alunni, che spesso hanno preso di mira l’anziana, ma che non si fanno scrupolo a dire un po’ di bugie... ingarbugliando abbastanza la matassa ed incastrando di fatto il loro insegnante.
«Vede, sto cercando di mettermi nei panni dei bambini. Fin dall’inizio ho avuto la sensazione che questa fosse una storia di bambini, nella quale gli adulti si trovano immischiati per puro caso».
Ma gli adulti non sono da meno e danno parecchio filo da torcere al commissario, con i loro atteggiamenti e i loro sguardi, le loro mezze parole, la loro convinzione che il maestro, uno straniero, non uno di loro quindi, sia il colpevole “giusto” per questo villaggio e per questo caso.
Ma la realtà è ben diversa e Maigret ci arriva, armandosi di tutta la pazienza e l’umanità possibili, uscendone, come spesso gli accade, con un po’ di amarezza.
Maigret aveva l’aria triste, o forse solo stanca, come sempre quando chiudeva un caso. Era andato fin lì attirato dall’idea di mangiare ostriche innaffiate di vino bianco.
Ma non è stagione di ostriche... non resta che bersi una bella caraffa di bianco... Salute!
🌍 LdM - Sfida 2023: Francia 🇫🇷
✍️ GS
Il maestro chiede aiuto e protezione a Maigret che certo non si tira indietro; infatti accompagna di buon grado il maestro al suo villaggio ed inizia a muoversi nell’ambiente.
All’inizio vedeva i personaggi dall’esterno. Ne coglieva le piccole manie, ed era divertente. Poi a poco a poco si metteva nei loro panni, si chiedeva come mai si comportassero in quel modo o in quell’altro, si sorprendeva a pensare come loro, e questo era molto meno divertente.
Nel caso sono implicati, oltre al maestro, anche alcuni suoi alunni, che spesso hanno preso di mira l’anziana, ma che non si fanno scrupolo a dire un po’ di bugie... ingarbugliando abbastanza la matassa ed incastrando di fatto il loro insegnante.
«Vede, sto cercando di mettermi nei panni dei bambini. Fin dall’inizio ho avuto la sensazione che questa fosse una storia di bambini, nella quale gli adulti si trovano immischiati per puro caso».
Ma gli adulti non sono da meno e danno parecchio filo da torcere al commissario, con i loro atteggiamenti e i loro sguardi, le loro mezze parole, la loro convinzione che il maestro, uno straniero, non uno di loro quindi, sia il colpevole “giusto” per questo villaggio e per questo caso.
Ma la realtà è ben diversa e Maigret ci arriva, armandosi di tutta la pazienza e l’umanità possibili, uscendone, come spesso gli accade, con un po’ di amarezza.
Maigret aveva l’aria triste, o forse solo stanca, come sempre quando chiudeva un caso. Era andato fin lì attirato dall’idea di mangiare ostriche innaffiate di vino bianco.
Ma non è stagione di ostriche... non resta che bersi una bella caraffa di bianco... Salute!
🌍 LdM - Sfida 2023: Francia 🇫🇷
✍️ GS
May 31, 2012
Maigret è sempre Maigret.
Come ritornare a casa e trovarla calda e accogliente.
Come sdraiarsi sul divano mentre fuori piove e fa freddo.
Come accarezzare un gatto che fa le fusa.
Un piccolo, perfetto, irrinunciabile piacere.
Come ritornare a casa e trovarla calda e accogliente.
Come sdraiarsi sul divano mentre fuori piove e fa freddo.
Come accarezzare un gatto che fa le fusa.
Un piccolo, perfetto, irrinunciabile piacere.
July 10, 2017
French village life is a feature of several Maigret books though this is the first I have read. The 'village mysteries' take a detailed look at small town life and culture. The great detective helps unravel the case of an unpleasant elderly woman who has been shot.
Clearly Simenon's books have influenced many other writes. This reminds me of Bussi's Black Water Lilies which I read not long ago, and similarly is a wonderful description of a typical French village.
Clearly Simenon's books have influenced many other writes. This reminds me of Bussi's Black Water Lilies which I read not long ago, and similarly is a wonderful description of a typical French village.
May 2, 2021
Meh. I like Simenon and Maigret but I found this case quite dull, like a series of events you would hear on the news. It did not tickle my mind and it was actually clear who was the sniper... At least to me.
Also, in this particular novel, the location is key and having included a map would have helped the reader understanding the set better.
Also, in this particular novel, the location is key and having included a map would have helped the reader understanding the set better.
September 16, 2020
une enquête dans un petit village de charentes-maritime, où un instituteur est accusé d'un crime dont il se dit innocent - il demande au commissaire maigret d'enquêter pour l'innocenter - description de la vie d'un village, qui ne donne aucune envie d'y vivre
December 3, 2021
An excellent outing for the stolid Inspector, who travels to a seaside village to solve a murder in an unofficial capacity. Instead of enjoying mussels and white wine by the sea he finds himself taken back to his own rural childhood.
Simenon is in fine form evoking the village and its inhabitants with deft, economical strokes.
Simenon is in fine form evoking the village and its inhabitants with deft, economical strokes.
August 29, 2025
Dit is weer een mooie, wat bedaagde, wat melancholische Maigret. Het verhaal speelt in een klein dorp, dat M. doet denken aan de sfeer van zijn jeugd. Jongens spelen een rol in het plot. Ja, een genoegen. Met dank aan degene die de toevoer van Simenons verzorgt vanuit de minibiebjes in Amsterdam💕
Read
October 5, 2019There's something very soothing about how Maigret's character, how his world view, emerges during the process of his investigations. Here, he is dealing with an insular village and the shooting of much-despised retired postmistress, and his biggest challenge is figuring out how to question and understand the children, who may have witnessed the shooting but who are certainly withholding information, possibly lying, and also caught up in layers of history and the adult dynamics of their village.
June 23, 2025
Ostriche e vino bianco! Ero in Francia, poco a nord della Charente dove è ambientato il racconto, e ce l'avevo sul reader. Potevo forse non leggerlo?
(io le ostriche le ho trovate!)
E sono tornata, purtroppo
(io le ostriche le ho trovate!)
E sono tornata, purtroppo
Read
July 1, 2012Been meaning to read Georges Simenon for a long time. Kept stumbling on these slim volumes at the library for the simple reason that they were housed on a shelf at eye level just at the end of a stack where one would turn in order to get to the exit. Then, one day, they were gone, presumably moved elsewhere, because the whole shelf had changed its makeup. Like any good mystery, they thus needed to be sussed out.
I asked about and was essentially told I could read the novels -- of which there are, like, 75, not counting short stories -- in any order. A list of someone's top-10 favorites led me to this one. It tells the story of a renowned Parisian detective, named Maigret, who travels to rural France to assist in locating the murderer of the most despised woman in a small town because he believes that the accused, the least liked man in that same town, is innocent. Per the reputation that preceded it, it's a mystery told as an exceptionally elegant, elegant to the point of banal, procedural. Highly enjoyable, especially for the depiction of small-town animosities, and the even more micro-interactions between individuals, especially between adult and child. And I am amazed that people can drink that much alcohol during the day and get anything accomplished.
I'm not sure that if I read all of Simenon's Maigret books I will remember any of them, but for the time being I will be dipping into the series.
I asked about and was essentially told I could read the novels -- of which there are, like, 75, not counting short stories -- in any order. A list of someone's top-10 favorites led me to this one. It tells the story of a renowned Parisian detective, named Maigret, who travels to rural France to assist in locating the murderer of the most despised woman in a small town because he believes that the accused, the least liked man in that same town, is innocent. Per the reputation that preceded it, it's a mystery told as an exceptionally elegant, elegant to the point of banal, procedural. Highly enjoyable, especially for the depiction of small-town animosities, and the even more micro-interactions between individuals, especially between adult and child. And I am amazed that people can drink that much alcohol during the day and get anything accomplished.
I'm not sure that if I read all of Simenon's Maigret books I will remember any of them, but for the time being I will be dipping into the series.
January 17, 2019
When I was a French student, I used to read Maigret novels because they are simply written, quickly read, and the vocabulary tends to remain the same from one book to another, so I could improve my French while being amused. Now I read them because Simenon is a master story-teller. His characters are deftly drawn and the world he creates is so convincing that it 's like taking a trip.
Simenon considered his Maigret novels to be somewhat lesser achievements than his other works, but he may have been wrong. (Among his other works, I can recommend The Snow was Dirty.) Although these are "crime novels", they are rooted in everyday reality and have none of the (appealing) cynicism and sassiness of, for example, the ones written by the great Raymond Chandler. Nor are they puzzlers like the ones concocted by Agatha Christie.
Jules Maigret is a great creation, a character so real and complex that you feel like you know him, and want to pay him a visit. Fortunately, you can do just that: Simenon wrote 75 Maigret novels and 28 short stories.
Simenon considered his Maigret novels to be somewhat lesser achievements than his other works, but he may have been wrong. (Among his other works, I can recommend The Snow was Dirty.) Although these are "crime novels", they are rooted in everyday reality and have none of the (appealing) cynicism and sassiness of, for example, the ones written by the great Raymond Chandler. Nor are they puzzlers like the ones concocted by Agatha Christie.
Jules Maigret is a great creation, a character so real and complex that you feel like you know him, and want to pay him a visit. Fortunately, you can do just that: Simenon wrote 75 Maigret novels and 28 short stories.
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