Maigret Among the Rich: Maigret and the Millionaires / Maigret in Society / Maigret in Retirement

by Georges Simenon

Contents: Maigret and the millionaires.--Maigret in society.--Maigret in retirement.

Genres: Mystery

332 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1978

About the author

Georges 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.

Reviews

[Justin K. Rivers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rare little collection, I got it because it came with Maigret in Retirement, an overlooked gem. Maigret and the Millionaires is ok, a bit thin in terms of suspense but full of adroit observations. Maigret in Society has been covered elsewhere. It's Maigret in Retirement that should motivate you to read this.

Retirement is an odd story in the Maigret canon. It takes place after he has retired from the force, and muddles the continuity a bit in terms of his house and his life trajectory. But the structure is just perfect, leaving the reader up to the very end guessing. Sometimes, as with Maigret and the Millionaires, Simenon has Maigret wander around the whole time, mingling with the cast of characters, and then flies in an ending that has been distilled off-screen inside Maigret's mind, so to speak. In Retirement, we are more satisfyingly taken along the journey with Maigret, where information and points of no return are metered out at a pleasing clip.

I'm surprised that this novel has not been republished separately, as I think it ranks among the best.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed these classic Maigret books (liked Maigret and the Millionaire best and Maigret in Society least). All of them are very atmospheric and the mysteries are interesting. I think, however, that I prefer the others b/c one thing missing in these three is the feeling of the slightly dirty, seedy side of Paris and residents living there. Still, Simenon does a great job.

[Catalina Papadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed very much reading this book! Maigret Among Rich, not only is a collection of three brilliant detective story (oh, how well and decent were the books written back in the 19 hundreds!) but a clear analysis of the rich or/and high class people back in the 20th century.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent as usual

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contains 3 titles: Maigret and the Millionaires / Maigret in Society / Maigret in Retirement.

I'd read the first one previously, and liked it. Also liked the third, but then I've never really read a Maigret story I didn't at least like. The second was my favorite here, just a different kind of story with a bit of a twist at the very end, and, for some reason I can't explain, I think it was one of the better Maigret stories I've read among the many I've read since sometime in the 90's.

[Robin Helweg-Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting set, and 'Maigret in Retirement' has remarkable strengths of plot, characters and poignancy.