Georges Simenon, (1903-1989) a prolific writer, and one of the world's most translated, is perhaps best known for the creation of the fictional detective Maigret, and is also the author of a particularly rich correspondence. From the manuscript written in the solitude of his office to the letters exchanged with his friends or his colleagues, Georges Simenon's writings reveal an intimate facet of his character. Georges Simenon unveils his love for his family, his affection for his mother despite their difficult relationship, his modesty towards the world of letters and even his writing tics : "Yesterday, at around 3.45, I sat down at the same desk with the 'Do not disturb' sign on the two doors, with the coffee beside me, four dozen new just-sharpened pencils and also a new pad of yellowish paper and the paper envelope with the names, ages and addresses of my characters - a pile of railway guides. With the curtains drawn, and machines and pipes cleaned... In short, the routine that ended up becoming a superstition." ILLUSTRATIONS: 100 colour
