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A review by saareman
Maigret in Vichy by Georges Simenon
4.0
Maigret On Vacation
Review of the Penguin Classics paperback (June 2019) of a new translation* by [a:Ros Schwartz|7619|Ros Schwartz|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] of the French language original [b:Maigret à Vichy|18620383|Maigret à Vichy|Georges Simenon|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|135638] (1968)
[3.5]
The Opera in Vichy. A more shadowy photograph of this building is used as the cover image of the new Penguin Classics edition of "Maigret in Vichy." This image sourced from Wikipedia.
Maigret in Vichy finds the Parisian Chief Inspector sent to take the waters in the resort town of Vichy on the orders of his friend Doctor Pardon. The 53 year-old (n.b. for once, the age of Maigret is mentioned and indicates that Maigret time is passing more slowly than real time i.e. it has already been a 37 year old career since [b:Pietr the Latvian|18114335|Pietr the Latvian (Maigret #1)|Georges Simenon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1372681799l/18114335._SY75_.jpg|135636] (1931)) is feeling the stresses of the job and is remarkably subservient to his doctor's orders. Madame Maigret joins him for the rest cure which requires walking around the town to drink the various mineral waters at different springs and to avoid alcohol. The always observant Maigret notices a single woman who is regularly taking in the music at the town's bandstand. She becomes the murder victim and a case for Maigret even while on vacation.
Maigret is a known personality and his consultation is an expected fact by the local press and authorities and of course the Chief Inspector cannot resist in providing his usual perceptive observations and recommendations. What at first seems a bungled case of burglary is gradually revealed to be the not unexpected result of a long running blackmail scheme.
Although this is a very relaxed Maigret in comparison to most cases, it was pleasant to see the Chief Inspector in a cozy mood and enjoying the company of Madame Maigret in a vacation setting.
The cover of the original French language edition of "Maigret in Vichy" as published by Press de la Cité, France 1968. Image sourced from Maigret of the Month.
I read the first dozen Maigret novellas earlier this year and then intended to proceed with several of Simenon's romans durs (French: hard novels) which he considered his more serious work, as opposed to the lighter fare involving the Chief Inspector. The non-Maigrets are a bit more difficult to source however and there seem to be less than a dozen in current editions from Penguin Classics. Anyway, to keep the Simenon pipeline flowing, I thought I'd add several of the late Maigrets to my ongoing reading survey.
In the continuing confusion for completists, this is Maigret #68 in the recent Penguin Classics series of new translations (2013-2019) of the Inspector Maigret novels and short stories, but it is Maigret #67 in the previous standard Maigret Series Listopia as listed on Goodreads.
Trivia and Links
* Some earlier English translations have given the title as Maigret Takes the Waters.
There is extensive background and a detailed plot description (spoilers obviously) about Maigret in Vichy at Maigret of the Month.
Maigret in Vichy has been adapted for film once in a French language television version as Episode 64 of the long running series Les enquêtes du commissaire Maigret (The Investigations of Inspector Maigret) (1967-1990) starring Jean Richard 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 (June 2019) of a new translation* by [a:Ros Schwartz|7619|Ros Schwartz|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] of the French language original [b:Maigret à Vichy|18620383|Maigret à Vichy|Georges Simenon|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|135638] (1968)
[3.5]
What else did they have to do with their days? They ambled around casually. From time to time, they paused, not because they were out of breath but to admire a tree, a house, the play of light and shadow, or a face.
They could have sworn they'd been in Vichy for an eternity, whereas this was only their fifth day. They had already created a schedule for themselves which they followed meticulously as if it were of the utmost importance, and their days were measured out by various rituals which they adhered to religiously. - excerpt from Maigret in Vichy
The Opera in Vichy. A more shadowy photograph of this building is used as the cover image of the new Penguin Classics edition of "Maigret in Vichy." This image sourced from Wikipedia.
Maigret in Vichy finds the Parisian Chief Inspector sent to take the waters in the resort town of Vichy on the orders of his friend Doctor Pardon. The 53 year-old (n.b. for once, the age of Maigret is mentioned and indicates that Maigret time is passing more slowly than real time i.e. it has already been a 37 year old career since [b:Pietr the Latvian|18114335|Pietr the Latvian (Maigret #1)|Georges Simenon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1372681799l/18114335._SY75_.jpg|135636] (1931)) is feeling the stresses of the job and is remarkably subservient to his doctor's orders. Madame Maigret joins him for the rest cure which requires walking around the town to drink the various mineral waters at different springs and to avoid alcohol. The always observant Maigret notices a single woman who is regularly taking in the music at the town's bandstand. She becomes the murder victim and a case for Maigret even while on vacation.
Maigret is a known personality and his consultation is an expected fact by the local press and authorities and of course the Chief Inspector cannot resist in providing his usual perceptive observations and recommendations. What at first seems a bungled case of burglary is gradually revealed to be the not unexpected result of a long running blackmail scheme.
Although this is a very relaxed Maigret in comparison to most cases, it was pleasant to see the Chief Inspector in a cozy mood and enjoying the company of Madame Maigret in a vacation setting.
The cover of the original French language edition of "Maigret in Vichy" as published by Press de la Cité, France 1968. Image sourced from Maigret of the Month.
I read the first dozen Maigret novellas earlier this year and then intended to proceed with several of Simenon's romans durs (French: hard novels) which he considered his more serious work, as opposed to the lighter fare involving the Chief Inspector. The non-Maigrets are a bit more difficult to source however and there seem to be less than a dozen in current editions from Penguin Classics. Anyway, to keep the Simenon pipeline flowing, I thought I'd add several of the late Maigrets to my ongoing reading survey.
In the continuing confusion for completists, this is Maigret #68 in the recent Penguin Classics series of new translations (2013-2019) of the Inspector Maigret novels and short stories, but it is Maigret #67 in the previous standard Maigret Series Listopia as listed on Goodreads.
Trivia and Links
* Some earlier English translations have given the title as Maigret Takes the Waters.
There is extensive background and a detailed plot description (spoilers obviously) about Maigret in Vichy at Maigret of the Month.
Maigret in Vichy has been adapted for film once in a French language television version as Episode 64 of the long running series Les enquêtes du commissaire Maigret (The Investigations of Inspector Maigret) (1967-1990) starring Jean Richard 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.