Émile Gaboriau (9 November 183228 September 1873) was a French writer, novelist, journalist, and a pioneer of

detective fiction Detective fiction is a subgenre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an criminal investigation, investigator or a detective—whether professional, amateur or retired—investigates a crime, often murder. The detective genre began around ...

Early life

Gaboriau was born in the small town of Saujon, Charente-Maritime. He was the son of Charles Gabriel Gaboriau, a public official and his mother was Marguerite Stéphanie Gaboriau. Gaboriau became a secretary to

Paul Féval Paul may refer to: People * Paul (given name), a given name, including a list of people * Paul (surname), a list of people * Paul the Apostle, an apostle who wrote many of the books of the New Testament * Ray Hildebrand, half of the singing duo ...

, and after publishing some novels and miscellaneous writings, found his real gift in ''L'Affaire Lerouge'' (1866).

Literary life

Gaboriau's novel ''L'Affaire Lerouge'' is widely considered as the first detective story in France. Its structure is characterized as a flashback into the past that serves to inform a present mystery. Influenced by Baudelaire's translations of the stories of

Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe (; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic who is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales involving mystery and the macabre. He is widely re ...

, this work introduced an amateur detective and a young police officer named Monsieur Lecoq, who was the hero in three of Gaboriau's later detective novels. The character of Lecoq was based on a real-life thief turned police officer,

Eugène François Vidocq Eugene is a common male given name that comes from the Greek εὐγενής (''eugenēs''), "noble", literally "well-born", from εὖ (''eu''), "well" and γένος (''genos''), "race, stock, kin".Les Habits Noirs'' book series. Gaboriau was likely influenced also by the philosophy of positivism, promoted by Auguste Comte, which promoted the idea that science could answer all questions. Gaboriau's investigators rely heavily on newly developing scientific methodologies in their pursuit of criminals rather than simply on interrogation and eyewitnesses. ''L'Affaire Lerouge'' was published as a series in the daily ''

Le Soleil Le Soleil ("The Sun") is the name of several newspapers: * ''Le Soleil'' (Quebec), a French-language daily newspaper in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, founded in 1896 * ''Le Soleil'' (French newspaper), a defunct daily newspaper based in Paris fro ...

'' and at once made his reputation. Its recounting of a reclusive woman who is murdered for the secret she hides gained for Gaboriau a huge following. But when

Arthur Conan Doyle Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930) was a British writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for ''A Study in Scarlet'', the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Hol ...

created

Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a Detective fiction, fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a "Private investigator, consulting detective" in his stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with obser ...

, Monsieur Lecoq's international fame declined. The story was produced on the stage in 1872. A long series of novels dealing with the annals of the police court followed, and proved very popular. Gaboriau died in Paris of pulmonary

apoplexy Apoplexy () refers to the rupture of an internal organ and the associated symptoms. Informally or metaphorically, the term ''apoplexy'' is associated with being furious, especially as "apoplectic". Historically, it described what is now known as a ...

. Gaboriau's books were generally well received. About ''The Mystery of the Orcival'', ''

Harper's ''Harper's Magazine'' is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts. Launched in New York City in June 1850, it is the oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the United States. ''Harper's Magazine'' has ...

'' wrote in 1872: "Of its class of romance—French sensational—this is a remarkable and unique specimen". A film version of ''Le Dossier n° 113'' (File No. 113) was released in 1932. In ''

A Study in Scarlet ''A Study in Scarlet'' is an 1887 Detective fiction, detective novel by British writer Arthur Conan Doyle. The story marks the first appearance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, who would go on to become one of the most well-known detective ...

'', Arthur Conan Doyle has Watson ask Sherlock Holmes what he thinks of Gaboriau's work. Holmes disparages Lecoq as "a miserable bungler". In reality, Conan Doyle was a great admirer of Gaboriau.

Fiction

Series

''Mariages d'aventure''

#''Monsieur J.-D. de Saint-Roch, ambassadeur matrimonial'' – The Matrimonial Ambassador: Monsieur J. D. de Saint-Roch (1862) #''Promesses de mariage'' – Promises of Marriage (1862)

Lecoq & Others

# ''L'Affaire Lerouge'' (1866) – The Widow Lerouge / The Lerouge Case / The Lerouge Affair # ''Le Crime d'Orcival'' (1867) – The Mystery of Orcival # ''Le Dossier n° 113'' (1867) – Dossier No. 113 / File No. 113 / The Blackmailers translated by Fred Williams # ''Les Esclaves de Paris'' (1868, 2 vol.) – Slaves of Paris (''Le Chantage'' – Caught in the Net) and (''Le Secret de la Maison de Champdoce'' – The Champdoce Mystery) # '' Monsieur Lecoq'' (1869, 2 vol. – ''L'Enquête'' – The Inquiry / Monsieur Lecoq / The Detective's Dilemma) and ( ''L'Honneur du nom'' – The Honor of the Name / The Detective's Triumph) # ''La Vie infernale'' (1870, 2 vol.) – The Count's Millions (''Pascal et Marguerite'' – The Count's Millions) and (''Lia d'Argeles'' – Baron Trigault's Vengeance) # ''La Clique dorée'' (1871) – The Clique of Gold / The Gilded Clique # ''La Dégringolade'' (1872) – Catastrophe / The Downward Path # ''La Corde au cou'' (1873) – Rope Around His Neck / In Peril of His Life / In Deadly Peril # ''L'Argent des autres'' (1874) – Other People's Money / A Great Robbery # ''Une Disparition'' (1876) – A Disappearance / Missing! / 1000 Francs Reward

Non-Series

* ''Le treizième Hussards'' (1861) – The 13th Hussars * ''Les Gens de Bureau'' (1862) – The Men of the Bureau * ''Les comédiennes adorées'' (1863) * ''Le Petit Vieux des Batignolles'' (1876) – The Little Old Man of Batignolles * ''Le Capitaine Coutanceau'' (1878) – Captain Coutanceau * ''Maudite maison'' (1876) – The Unfortunate House * ''Casta vixit'' (1876) – Love, the Conqueror * ''Amours d'une empoisonneuse'' (1881) – Intrigues of a Poisoner / An Adventuress of France / The Marquise De Brinvilliers

Filmography

*'' Monsieur Lecoq'', directed by

Maurice Tourneur Maurice Félix Thomas (; 2 February 1876 – 4 August 1961), known as Maurice Tourneur (), was a French film director and screenwriter. Life Born Maurice Félix Thomas in the Épinettes district (17th arrondissement of Paris), his father was a w ...

(1914, based on the novel '' Monsieur Lecoq'') *''L'Affaire d'Orcival'', directed by Gérard Bourgeois (1914, based on the novel '' Le Crime d'Orcival'') *' (1915, based on the novel '' Monsieur Lecoq''), with

William Morris William Morris (24 March 1834 – 3 October 1896) was an English textile designer, poet, artist, writer, and socialist activist associated with the British Arts and Crafts movement. He was a major contributor to the revival of traditiona ...

as Lecoq *', directed by Will S. Davis (1915, based on the novel ''L'Affaire Lerouge'') *''The Evil Women Do'', directed by

Rupert Julian Rupert Julian (born Thomas Percival Hayes; 25 January 1879 – 27 December 1943) was a New Zealand cinema actor, director, writer and producer. During his career, Julian directed 60 films and acted in over 90 films. He is best remembered for di ...

(1916, based on the novel ''La Clique dorée'') *''Le Capitaine noir'', directed by Gérard Bourgeois (1917) *'' Thou Shalt Not Steal'', directed by

William Nigh William Nigh, born Emil Kreuske (October 12, 1881 – November 27, 1955), was an American film Film director, director, screenwriter, writer, and actor. His film work sometimes lists him as either "Will Nigh" or "William Nye". Biography Nig ...

(1917, based on the novel ''Le Dossier n° 113'') *'' File 113'', directed by Chester M. Franklin (1933, based on the novel ''Le Dossier n° 113''), with Lew Cody as Lecoq *' (TV series, 35 episodes, 1964–65), with as Lecoq *''Nina Gipsy'', directed by (TV film, 1971, based on the novel ''Le Dossier n° 113''), with as Lecoq *', directed by (TV miniseries, 1975, based on the novel ''La Corde au cou'') *', directed by (TV film, 1976, based on the novel ''L'Affaire Lerouge'') *''La Corde au cou'', directed by

Marcel Moussy Marcel Moussy (7 May 1924 – 10 August 1995) was a French people, French screenwriter and television director. Moussy was born in Algiers. He was co-nominated with François Truffaut for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the ...

(TV miniseries, 1978, based on the novel ''La Corde au cou'')

References

External links

* * * *
Online editions of his works

sur Roman-Feuilleton & HARD-BOILED site (Comprehensive Bibliographies by Vladimir Matuschenko) {{DEFAULTSORT:Gaboriau, Emile 1832 births 1873 deaths People from Charente-Maritime French crime fiction writers Writers from Nouvelle-Aquitaine 19th-century French novelists French male novelists 19th-century French male writers French mystery writers French detective fiction writers 19th-century French short story writers French male short story writers 19th-century French journalists French male journalists Sensation novelists