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Pietr the Latvian
- Inspector Maigret, Book 1
- Narrated by: Gareth Armstrong
- Length: 3 hrs and 57 mins
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Pietr the Latvian
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Summary
The first audiobook which appeared in Georges Simenon's famous Maigret series, in a gripping new translation by David Bellos.
Inevitably Maigret was a hostile presence in the Majestic. He constituted a kind of foreign body that the hotel's atmosphere could not assimilate. Not that he looked like a cartoon policeman. He didn't have a moustache and he didn't wear heavy boots. His clothes were well cut and made of fairly light worsted. He shaved every day and looked after his hands. But his frame was proletarian. He was a big, bony man. His firm muscles filled out his jacket and quickly pulled all his trousers out of shape. He had a way of imposing himself just by standing there. His assertive presence had often irked many of his own colleagues.
In Simenon's first novel featuring Maigret, the laconic detective is taken from grimy bars to luxury hotels as he traces the true identity of Pietr the Latvian. Georges Simenon was born in Liège, Belgium, in 1903. Best known in Britain as the author of the Maigret books, his prolific output of over 400 novels and short stories have made him a household name in continental Europe. He died in 1989 in Lausanne, Switzerland, where he had lived for the latter part of his life.
David Bellos is Director of the Program in Translation and Intercultural Communication at Princeton University and has won many awards for his translations including the Man Booker International Translator's Award (2005).
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Critic reviews
What listeners say about Pietr the Latvian
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- BarbicanBoy
- 03-05-16
Margaret the 1st
My 1st Maigret in a form other than tv was very interesting a complex plot kept one one involved all the way through. A good listen.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ms Lixie
- 22-07-14
Loved the TV series, now loving the audio books
I was almost put off by other reviews saying these translations made Maigret less likable but I am glad I took a chance on what is a relatively short audio book in exchange for one of my precious credits. I have listened to this twice and really love the story and the narrator. He does a great job with accents, men's voices and women's. Maigret is a touch 'harder' than the TV series from the 80s but not so much that this couldn't be Michael Gambon still. The story is interesting and has Maigret travelling around, talking to different ranks and interacting with Madame Maigret. I would definitely recommend this.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Beth Parker
- 15-06-19
The story wasn't great...
I did wonder about half way through why Maigret didn't seem to do anything other than observe people all the way through. limited storyline. wouldn't listen again but I guess I am glad I've listened to it. I hope the other stories and quite so bland...but we shall see...
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Viv
- 28-01-14
Easy Reading of a classic cop
Would you listen to Pietr the Latvian again? Why?
I am not likely to listen to this story again, though it was enjoyable enough first time around. Story was a bit thin and didn't engage me very much - but good enough as background to doing the gardening or going to sleep.
What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)
All tied up nicely at the end, though no great surprise, if a bit contorted.
Have you listened to any of Gareth Armstrong’s other performances? How does this one compare?
First time I have heard Gareth, but an enjoyable reader within plenty of 'character'.
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8 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- lisann
- 24-07-22
Enjoyed the story & Translation
The narrator was great he made you visualise the scene clearly and I felt his portrait of Maigret was exactly how I had envisaged him. I will be hearing more of Maigret soon.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- woodwild
- 10-11-13
At last the book not the play.
What made the experience of listening to Pietr the Latvian the most enjoyable?
Great to see the books out and translated well - not the BBC plays which are good but not good enough - well paced and full of character and texture. Old school investigation, gritty Gaelic noir!
What did you like best about this story?
Crime mystery at its intricate best.
Have you listened to any of Gareth Armstrong’s other performances? How does this one compare?
Really well read - the many voices are all distinct and played with conviction
If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
AT LAST A DECENT FILM
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12 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Annie
- 08-08-14
I couldn't stop listening!
What did you like most about Pietr the Latvian?
I love these tales & this didn't disappoint.
Any additional comments?
This was an excellent listen, an easy and undemanding listen & the characters were already known to me. In spite of that or maybe because of it, it made me listen. Gareth Armstrong will definitely see me listening to more of his reads. Inspector Maigret and the other characters here, but especially him, come to life.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Patricia
- 11-12-13
A memory of times past
I remember watching Maigret as a child on the television and I can remember the signature tune and opening titles vividly but I don't think I was aware that it was about drugs and violence. I enjoyed listening to this classic but I think it illustrates how far crime fiction has come. I will probably purchase the next in the series for nostalgic reasons.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sodit Amazon Customer
- 04-06-15
Brilliant as always
Excellent story. Excellent narrator very good characterisation thoroughly good read as it were. two words
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Robin Lapper
- 27-05-20
A well constructed story of it's time.
This is a well constructed and captivating story that takes you to a France when things were a little more simple. Nevertheless the story is adult, and sophisticated. At times there are descriptions of some characters and peoples that will make you feel uncomfortable. The book's voice (to distinguish from the narrator) contains a cynicism that one might not expect of the character realised on television.
After reading I looked up Simenon online and the general consensus that he was not as good a man as he was a writer did not surprise me. I was at a quandary as to whether I should listen to more but I did read The Carter of La Providence and thankfully my fears were assuaged.
Having now read the second Maigret novel I can say the first book is a good grounding for the character but I would say the second book shapes the character more. The character becomes less cynical. World wise, but not as cynical as this first book may have you believe.
Overall the narration is good, the story is well paced, and you can absolutely tell why Maigret has stood the test of time.
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