Most readers know Georges Simenon’s great Maigret mysteries. And some have read Simenon’s stand-alone novels. But, I’m guessing few people have read Simenon’s fictional autobiography, Pedigree. Pedigree is Georges Simenon’s longest (560 pages!) and most compelling novel. “In the early 1940s, Simenon began work on a memoir of his Belgian childhood. He showed the initial pages to André Gide, who urged him turn them into a novel. The result was, Simenon later remarked, a book in which everything is true but nothing is accurate.” Simeon wrote Pedigree so his own son, Marc, would understand the bizarre circumstances that shaped his life. If you’re a fan of Maigret or have any interest in Georges Simenon, don’t miss this great book!
I was unaware of this book–but I did try to read Simenon’s “real” autobiography some years ago. Although I’m a fan of Simenon and love the Maigret books, the autobiography defeated me by its sheer volume and rather tedious nature (including the amount of ink Simenon devoted to his numerous amorous conquests). I understand when he wrote it, he was trying to come to terms with the suicide of his daughter, which might explain its overly-confessional, somewhat cloying tone. Perhaps that sort of thing works better in fiction–maybe I’ll give this book a try.
BTW, I love that cover–can you imagine having to walk up and down those steps everyday?
I had the same reaction to Simenon’s “real” autobiography as you did, Deb. But PEDIGREE is completely different. Gide’s advice to Simenon to write his life story as a novel was a brilliant approach. Plus, PEDIGREE covers Simenon’s early life before his “sexual addiction” kicked in.
Sounds interesting, all right, but 560 pages? You know how I feel about long books.
I have the same opinion of lengthy books, Bill, but I made an exception for PEDIGREE. And, I’m glad I did. This is a great book!
Deb, I had the same problem with Simenon’s Autobiography. I did read his (much shorter) LETTER TO MY MOTHER and his notebooks (WHEN I WAS OLD), as well as books about him by John Raymond (SIMENON IN COURT), Fenton Bresler (THE MYSTERY OF GEORGES SIMENON), Stanley G. Eskin (SIMENON: A CRITICAL BIOGRAPHY), and Patrick Marnham (THE MAN WHO WASN’T MAIGRET). Each has something interesting to say.
I have an older Penguin edition from 1965, but the cover on the one George reviewed is fantastic.
And no, I haven’t read the book as yet.
Wow! You’ve read way more Simenon biographical/ autobiograhical material than I have, Jeff. But PEDIGREE may be the best of them all.
I’d not heard of this one either. A book in which “everything is true but nothing is accurate”. Very interesting. I usually share Bill’s opinion on long books, and the Follett I tried to read a while back only reinforced it, but this is one I might try. I’ll see if the library has it.
The wonderful New York Review of Books Press just published this edition of PEDIGREE in an attractive package, Rick. It’s well worth your time.
I must confess, I have read no Simenon. I shall rectify this soon and may one day get to this biographical novel. It does sound interesting.
I actually like Simenon’s stand-alone novels better than some of the Maigrets, Scott. You might try Three Bedrooms in Manhattan, his ménage à trois in In Case of Emergency, his travels in the novels with foreign settings – Tropic Moon, Aboard the Aquitaine, Banana Tourist, The Bottom of the Bottle, and The Brothers Rico.
He lived here for years (in Connecticut, I believe) and set some books there. Of course the Manhattan book was set here. And there was at least one Maigret set in New York.
I think Simenon also made it to Arizona, Jeff. Or, was that D. H. Lawrence…
If I ever get around to a Simenon, sounds like this should be the one.
I’d start out with some of the Maigrets, Evan. Since Art Scott and Jeff Meyerson have read them all, maybe they could suggest some titles. If you find you enjoy Simenon, then you might want to tackle PEDIGREE. At 560 pages, it’s quite a reading commitment.
Can anyone tell me, first, the French title of what in English appears as “Pedigree?” And second, how to obtain a copy of the French original? Online research is for once unavailing.
Don, I suggest you contact a Reference Librarian at a University Library near you. I’m sure they could answer your questions.