--- Doug Bassett <
dj_bassett@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Mr. Benz's recent post on the death of
Jean-Claude
> Izzo reminded me of a question I've been meaning
to
> ask here. Are any of those French Serie Noire
books
> available in English translations? There's
a
> fascinating chapter on them in Ed Gorman's BIG
BOOK
> OF
> NOIR, enough to really whet my appetite, but,
sadly,
> like many Americans I do not speak or
understand
> another language. If I'm going to read Izzo or
any
> of
> the others it'll have to be in
translation.
That's the problem with French HB/Noir which is seldom
translated into English. And this is going on since years. Do
not ask me why... especially considering the quality of some
of the best French writers from the past and present.
For the moment, for the contemporary authors, you could find
some books by Daniel Pennac(really a good author, but be
prepared for surrealist plots, off-beat characters and
more...), and by Didier Daeninckx that were translated. From
the past: Leo Malet (some of his saga The new Mysteries of
Paris, with his French PI Nestor Burma, were translated
recently- amongst that series, there are at least 3 or 4
great novels). Leo Malet however HB did not appear in the
Serie Noire.
And even so, I'm not sure you'll find these in American
publications; they were published most of the time in the UK
only.
On my web site, if interested, you will find a part of the
article about Serie Noire you refer to, that was not
reprinted in the 'Big Book of Noir' and which points toward
the latest (97) French authors selected by SN, and some
documents.
I very recently discovered a new author of high quality,
published by SN- Francois Barcelo (French Canadian) and his
novel: "Cadavres" (Corpses), really a great book. Sharp, full
of dark humor, a bit surreal and above average by its style
of writing. Barcelo published previously in Quebec, but I
hope this SN support will give him the necessary boost. But
even being Canadian will not make it more easy, I think, for
Barcelo accessing the American market with a
translation.
I really think it's a loss for the American public not having
access to the best of the French writers in HB/Noir. Other
voices, often other views and some great authors.
E.Borgers Hard-Boiled Mysteries http://www.geocities.com/Athens/6384
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