Georges Simenon French writer Date of Birth: 13.02.1903 Country: Belgium

Biography of Georges Simenon

Georges Simenon was a French writer and master of detective fiction. His novels, although containing murders, are more like psychological dramas than traditional detective stories. They explore the reasons behind ordinary, seemingly decent citizens committing crimes. Simenon was influenced by Russian literary classics such as Gogol, Dostoevsky, and Chekhov, who instilled in him a love for the common man and a deep understanding of human psychology.

Born in the Belgian city of Liège, Simenon grew up in a religious family. He initially aspired to become a priest or a pastry chef, but life took a different turn. Living with foreign students, many of whom were Russian, opened Simenon's eyes to literature, and he became fascinated with Russian classics. Simenon also developed an interest in medicine and law, which he later incorporated into his writing.

Initially, Simenon pursued a career in journalism rather than writing novels. He worked as a police reporter, gathering information from various police stations and visiting the central police station twice a day. However, his passion for literature led him to write his first major work, "The Train Conductor," which was published in 1924. From that year onward, Simenon published 300 novels and short stories under various pseudonyms, including his most famous name, Georges Sim.

Simenon's personal life was marked by his marriage to Tigy, a fellow native of Liège and an aspiring artist. While Simenon was already publishing his works, Tigy quickly gained recognition as a painter. They lived a bohemian lifestyle, frequenting cafes in Montparnasse and traveling when they had the means. Simenon's love for sailing led him to build his own sailboat, the "Ostgot." While sailing, Simenon found inspiration for his famous detective series featuring Commissaire Maigret.

Simenon's first Maigret novel, "Pietr the Latvian," was published in 1929 when he and Tigy were wintering in Delfzijl, a Dutch town. This novel marked the beginning of a series that would include "The Late Monsieur Gallet," "The Hanging at Saint-Pholien," "The Bargee," "The Headless Corpse," and many others.

Simenon's publisher, Fayard, initially doubted the success of his detective novels. However, the Maigret series surpassed all expectations. Simenon's writing style diverged from traditional detective fiction by focusing on the social and psychological motives behind crimes. His characters were not professional killers or masterminds but ordinary individuals driven to commit crimes by circumstances beyond their control.

Aside from the Maigret series, Simenon also wrote other novels, which critics refer to as socio-psychological works. Throughout his life, Simenon traveled extensively, drawing inspiration from his journeys to Africa, India, South America, and the United States. His novels "The Shadow in the Courtyard," "The Man from Everywhere," and "The Black Ball" explored themes of colonialism, oppression, and racism.

In his later years, Simenon settled in Switzerland and continued to write. However, in 1972, he made the decision to stop writing novels, leaving his last work, "Oscar," unfinished. He wanted to live his own life rather than the lives of his characters. Simenon's decision brought him a sense of freedom and liberation. Despite retiring from writing, Simenon remained an observer of world events, offering criticism in interviews. He passed away in 1989, leaving behind a legacy of over 450 published works.