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A review by sjbozich
Tropic Moon by Georges Simenon
4.0
When I need a nice break from reading heavier things, I know I can depend on a Simenon Maigret to relax me. Short and sweet.
But CrimeReads recently had an article on his non-Maigret novels, his "serious novels". NYRofBks published a number of them in the early '00's - but they are OOP, and now sell for a premium. This was available at less than $10 as an ebook. Like most of his Maigret titles, it clocks in at less than 150 pp.
Published in 1933, as Norman Rush nicely states in his Introduction, Simenon wasn't what you would call liberal in his attitude towards African Blacks. His distaste for colonialism was not so much for the treatment of the "natives" as it was for what Africa did to the Europeans who went there.
A bit of mystery in here (there is a murder), and a nice commentary ala Joseph Conrad on what leaving civilization behind does to one, and a scathing expose on politics and justice in colonial Africa by the French. Also a nice addition to literature on French Colonialism, in the vein of Camus' "The Stranger".
For Simenon fans (although they might be disappointed in how non-Maigret this story is), but also for those interested in French Colonialism. Also hints of James M. Cain - although they do not kill off the husband. Lots of sex, but since it is 1933 mainstream publishing, no details.
3/4 out of 5.
But CrimeReads recently had an article on his non-Maigret novels, his "serious novels". NYRofBks published a number of them in the early '00's - but they are OOP, and now sell for a premium. This was available at less than $10 as an ebook. Like most of his Maigret titles, it clocks in at less than 150 pp.
Published in 1933, as Norman Rush nicely states in his Introduction, Simenon wasn't what you would call liberal in his attitude towards African Blacks. His distaste for colonialism was not so much for the treatment of the "natives" as it was for what Africa did to the Europeans who went there.
A bit of mystery in here (there is a murder), and a nice commentary ala Joseph Conrad on what leaving civilization behind does to one, and a scathing expose on politics and justice in colonial Africa by the French. Also a nice addition to literature on French Colonialism, in the vein of Camus' "The Stranger".
For Simenon fans (although they might be disappointed in how non-Maigret this story is), but also for those interested in French Colonialism. Also hints of James M. Cain - although they do not kill off the husband. Lots of sex, but since it is 1933 mainstream publishing, no details.
3/4 out of 5.