The iron staircase

By Georges Simenon and Gerorges Simenon

Book Overview

Jerntrappen forbinder papirhandelens forretning med sovev relset p? f rste sal. I sovev relset ligger Etienne syg, imens hans kone, Louise, passer forretningen. Men Etiennes sygdom er omg rdet af... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0151456305
• ISBN13: 9780151456307
• Release Date: January 1977
• Publisher: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.

Customer Reviews

One of Simenon's Best

Etienne Lomel believes his wife Louise might be poisoning him. Although he is only 40, he is in terrible physical condition. He is breathless after walking up stairs, visibly losing weight, and always tired and apathetic. After eating meals, he often feels a burning sensation in his throat, dizziness, and a pain in his chest. The doctors aren't sure what the problem is and tell him to make a note of what happened just before each attack--what he ate, what he was doing. Sometimes he feels ashamed of his "evil thoughts" that maybe Louise wants him dead. Perhaps it isn't really true. After 15 years of marriage, he still loves her and wants to continue their relationship. But is she having an affair? They live above a stationery shop. It is his wife's business, having inherited it from her father. Everything belongs to her. Lomel owns nothing of his own and must ask her for money. He is totally dependent on her. She's the boss. The iron staircase of the title leads from the first floor up directly to their bedroom and the other rooms where they live. Lomel often stands at the top of the staircase listening to what is said downstairs at the shop. He wonders about the men Louise meets there every day--perhaps she is serious about one of them? He spends his days fretting and speculating about his wife while trying to recover from his illness. We learn how Etienne and Louise first met 15 years ago. She was married to her first husband at the time. Etienne came to her shop on business and they soon began an affair. Louise's callousness is seen when her sister-in-law died: all it meant to her was the chance for a long rendezvous with her lover, Etienne, since her husband had to go away for the funeral. Etienne and Louise agree to marry, but what about her husband? During one of his visits, she tells Etienne that her husband has become seriously ill. After a few weeks, the husband dies. Etienne didn't question her about it. He believes she poisoned her husband, as she might be poisoning him now, to get him out of the way and marry a younger man. Etienne has the same symptoms that her previous husband had immediately before he died: weight loss, tiredness, and heart trouble. For the 15 years of their marriage, he had never asked his wife how her former husband had died. Part II opens with Etienne seeing a doctor and asking if it's possible to determine if he is the victim of arsenic poisoning. At first, the doctor isn't sure. Etienne resolves to stay with Louise in spite of her and not to die. He takes the blame for his poor attitude. He tells her and their friends that he is a new person. Later he goes to the doctor again for more arsenic testing and the doctor finds positive results. Etienne finally has proof that Louise is trying to murder him. He tries to figure out what he will do. The doctor suggests he is obligated to go to the police but Etienne refuses to give him any information and leaves. Etienne goes back home and acts naturally. W