My french ain't up to reading them in the original but I did
enjoy, in translation, A Very Profitable War by Didier
Daeninckx, who should be in print as he is "the most
controversial contemporary French crime novelist"
(orig. Le der des der, Editions Galimard - 1984) according to
the cover blurb and their is fullsome praise for his other
work including "A modern version of the hybrid of
existentialism and sensation that was the Gallic response to
American tough-guy fiction," which sounds a nice definition
of noir/hb, may not be the right period for you. Is Maigret
hardboiled? Dunno but he is always in print and was used by a
lot of British schools to teach French - I think because the
language is fairly simple. I love him, so even if he isn't
hardboiled ....
On another French point - does anyone on the list know and
love Fantomas - who has been described as "Pulp surrealism" -
chronology, supernaturalism and so on decree that the series
can't be described as HB or noir but I really love the ones I
have read and think they might be of interest to people on
the list, if anyone can tell me how to get hold of more I'd
be very gratefull.
Alons les enfant de patrie! All together now.... Yours in
fraternity Colin
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