Georges Simenon (1903–1989) was a Belgian writer, author of nearly 500 novels and short stories, best-known as the creator of the fictional French detective Inspector Jules Maigret. The series, published between 1931 and 1972, has been translated into many languages and adapted for numerous plays, films, TV series (most recently starring Rowan Atkinson as the gruff detective) and radio. These two classic stories are from midway through the series, post-WW2. 'Maigret and the Man on the Boulevard' (original title 'Maigret et l'homme du banc') was first published in 1953. The first English edition with the title 'Maigret and the Man on the Bench' was published by Hamish Hamilton in 1975, and reissued under the present title by Penguin Classics in 2003. This US edition, in the translation by Eileen Ellenborgen, was published by Penguin Books (USA) in 2007. ISBN 9780143112839. 'Maigret in Court' (original title 'Maigret aux assises') was first published in 1960. The first English edition (translation by Robert Brain) was published in 1961, and reissued by Penguin Classics in 2003. ISBN 9780141187297. Like many of the Maigret books, they are both set in Paris and give an evocative sense of the city during the 1950s.