Georges Simenon (1903-1989) was born in Liege, Belgium. Best known in Britain as the author of the Maigret books, his prolific output of more than four hundred novels and short stories have made him a household name in continental Europe. David Bellos is the director of the program in translation and intercultural communication at Princeton University and has won many awards for his translations, including the Man Booker International Translator's Award.
'One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century...Simenon was unequalled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories.' -- The Guardian 'I love reading Simenon. He makes me think of Chekhov.' -- William Faulkner 'The greatest of all, the most genuine novelist we have had in literature' -- Andr' Gide 'A supreme writer...unforgettable vividness' -- The Independent 'Superb... The most addictive of writers... A unique teller of tales' -- The Observer 'Compelling, remorseless, brilliant.' -- John Gray 'A truly wonderful writer... marvellously readable - lucid, simple, absolutely in tune with the workd he creates' -- Muriel Spark 'A novelist who entered his fictional world as it he were a part of it' -- Peter Ackroyd 'Extraordinary masterpieces of the twentieth century' -- John Banville One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century Simenon was unequalled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories. The Guardian 'I love reading Simenon. He makes me think of Chekhov.' William Faulkner 'The greatest of all, the most genuine novelist we have had in literature' Andre Gide A supreme writer unforgettable vividness The Independent 'Superb... The most addictive of writers... A unique teller of tales' The Observer Compelling, remorseless, brilliant. John Gray 'A truly wonderful writer... marvellously readable - lucid, simple, absolutely in tune with the workd he creates' Muriel Spark 'A novelist who entered his fictional world as it he were a part of it' Peter Ackroyd 'Extraordinary masterpieces of the twentieth century' John Banville