Shorter Notices
Maigret Abroad. By Georges Simenon. Translated from the French by Geoffrey Sainsbury. (Routledge. 8s.)
ANTICIPATING Herr Hitler, Inspector Maigret has invaded Holland and Belgium. Not with a blitzkrieg, but with his customary war of attrition, in which the criminal is eventually worn down or caused to betray himself by Maigrees imperturbable pursuit. The first of the two novels contained in this new volume, A Crime in Holland, recounts one of the Inspector's quieter adventures, but the very drabness of the story serves to bring out Monsieur Simenon's descriptive and narrative gifts. Once again the land- scape and figures are clearly observed and vividly set down: one feels one has spent a considerable time in this smug little town with its canals and its social self-consciousness. Maigret brings the sad story to its dismal conclusion, despite difficulties of com- munication caused by his unbrushed-up Dutch. The second story, At the Gai-Moulin, is laid in Liege (incorrectly accented through- out) and centres round a disreputable bate de nuit. From its thrilling first chapter to the inevitable round-up the accelerator is kept firmly down ; this is the most exciting Maigret story yet translated. Mr. Sainsbury's translation is excellent as ever. Another double volume is promised for July.
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