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The Cat
Paperback
Published January 1, 1967
1 person is currently reading
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About the author
Georges Simenon
2,586 books2,345 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 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 15, 2026
I found this book hard to put down, although I was a tiny bit disappointed at how short it was and the ending. It felt very fast paced. At first, I found it quite humorous, in a dark and morbid way but I soon felt the humour dissipated quite rapidly. This book is cleverly written, and definitely depicts a build up of paranoia, resentment and depression between a couple who loathe each other. There is a powerful depiction of this unhealthy, co-dependent hatefulness towards each other, they struggle without the need to hurt each other and use one another as a vessel for their resentment of how their lives have changed.
I wanted to know if Marguerite would ever speak to Émile and say the truth of what happened with the cat - although I think he was dead set on that she did, and this wouldn’t budge. As she speaks to her friend Madame Martin, who comes to visit, it sounded like she was wrongly accused by Émile when they have a conversation about the reason why they don’t talk, with Émile spectating this as an outsider but very much in the same room. I personally think it was an accident, but Émile was convinced she did poison the cat (maybe this explores his inferiority and paranoia as her husband) thus tapping further in to his mental decline. You see how he starts to become fearful and his use of excessive wine becomes more regular and apparent. I hated Émile as a character. Taking out his uncontrolled rage and torturing the innocent parrot, deceitful, unfaithful, and evil. wanted him to be the first to die and that Marguerite would find happiness and respect of another man as she had done in her previous marriage before becoming a widow and marrying Émile. I wanted more about the background of Marguerite and Émile. Their experiences, although touched on, but not in as much depth as I would have liked. Very short book, a sudden end and not a huge amount of detail about the characters, but Georges Simenon is a clever writer and really made an impact on this dark and miserable book.
I wanted to know if Marguerite would ever speak to Émile and say the truth of what happened with the cat - although I think he was dead set on that she did, and this wouldn’t budge. As she speaks to her friend Madame Martin, who comes to visit, it sounded like she was wrongly accused by Émile when they have a conversation about the reason why they don’t talk, with Émile spectating this as an outsider but very much in the same room. I personally think it was an accident, but Émile was convinced she did poison the cat (maybe this explores his inferiority and paranoia as her husband) thus tapping further in to his mental decline. You see how he starts to become fearful and his use of excessive wine becomes more regular and apparent. I hated Émile as a character. Taking out his uncontrolled rage and torturing the innocent parrot, deceitful, unfaithful, and evil. wanted him to be the first to die and that Marguerite would find happiness and respect of another man as she had done in her previous marriage before becoming a widow and marrying Émile. I wanted more about the background of Marguerite and Émile. Their experiences, although touched on, but not in as much depth as I would have liked. Very short book, a sudden end and not a huge amount of detail about the characters, but Georges Simenon is a clever writer and really made an impact on this dark and miserable book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2025
An excellent exposition of a marriage when all love has gone. Simenon investigates the relationship and the internal machinations of a couple who married for company late in life, following an earlier, happy marriage for both of them. They no longer speak to each other, communicating by passing notes and yet, ironically, they need each other's company. beautifully written and thought provoking, this is the non-Maigret Simenon at it's best.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews