Emil Gabrio French writer, one of the founders of the detective genre Date of Birth: 09.11.1832 Country: France

1. Emile Gaboriau - French Writer and Pioneer of the Detective Genre
2. The Success of "L'Affaire Lerouge" and Gaboriau's Writing Career
3. Influence on European Literature

Emile Gaboriau - French Writer and Pioneer of the Detective Genre

Emile Gaboriau was a French writer and one of the founders of the detective genre. In 1860, he published his first book, "Les cotillons célèbres" (Famous Ballerinas), followed by "Les comédiennes adorées" (Adored Actresses) in 1863. However, his career as a chronicler of Parisian society and its theaters was not successful, so Gaboriau turned to the genre of crime and detective novels.

The Success of "L'Affaire Lerouge" and Gaboriau's Writing Career

Inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe, Eugene Sue, Alexandre Dumas, and Paul Féval, with whom he was once a secretary, Gaboriau embarked on writing his own crime novels. His first attempt in this genre, published in "Païs" in 1866, was a tremendous success. "L'Affaire Lerouge" (The Lerouge Affair) not only established the detective genre but also resonated with society, which sought a clever and skillful investigator as a "guardian angel" of their property. From that moment, Gaboriau's writing career gained a solid foundation.

Some of Gaboriau's notable novels in this genre include "Le crime d'Orcival" (The Crime of Orcival, 1867), "Le dossier N° 113" (Case No. 113, 1867), "Les Esclaves de Paris" (The Slaves of Paris, 1869), "Monsieur Lecoq" (Monsieur Lecoq, 1869), "La vie infernale" (Infernal Life, 1870), "La clique dorée" (The Gilded Clique, 1871), "La dégringolade" (The Downfall, 1872), "La corde au cou" (With a Rope Around the Neck, 1873), "L'Argent des autres" (Other People's Money, 1873), and "Le petit vieux des Batignolles" (The Little Old Man of Batignolles, 1876).

Influence on European Literature

Gaboriau occasionally adapted his novels into plays, contributing to the popularity of detective comedies. For example, he collaborated with Osteyn to adapt "L'Affaire Lerouge" into a play in 1872. Gaboriau's influence on European literature is undeniable, despite the modesty of his talent. It was fueled by the fashion and demand for heroic crime narratives. Gaboriau created the "noble detective" archetype, who always appeared in the most critical and tense moments of the story. His character Monsieur Lecoq served as the basis for Wilkie Collins' play "The Moonstone."

Authors like Robert Louis Stevenson imitated Gaboriau in their detective novellas, particularly in "The Rajah's Diamond." The renowned Arthur Conan Doyle, who emerged from Gaboriau's literary tradition, created Sherlock Holmes as a concentrated embodiment of the detective type portrayed by Gaboriau. English novelist Edgar Wallace also drew inspiration from Gaboriau's legacy, not to mention numerous smaller imitators. Gaboriau's novels have been translated into all languages, including multiple Russian editions.

This article is based on materials from the Literary Encyclopedia 1929-1939.