Skip to product information
1 of 1

Goldsboro Books

The Premier

The Premier

by Georges Simenon

Publisher Hamish Hamilton

Genre:

Released:

  • Unsigned
  • UK First Edition
  • First Printing
  • Hardcover


Regular price £100.00
Regular price Sale price £100.00
Sale Sold out
Rendering loop-subscriptions
Rendering loop-subscriptions

Pickup available at Brighton Store

Usually ready in 2-4 days

Available from:

Limited Edition Copies

View full details
  • Professionally Packed

    All of our books that have a dust wrapper are covered in clear protective, removable film and are packed professionally in bubble wrap and a box for shipping so that they reach you in perfect condition.

  • Book Condition & Notes

    Near-fine first edition with slight bumping to top back corner. In a near-fine unclipped jacket with some light wear/chipping to edges.

About the book

The scene is a house on the Normandy coast belonging to an 82-year-old ex-Premier of France, one of the grand old men of the European statesmanship; the time is the days when France had prime ministers who counted (however frequently they changed). The Premier sits in his famous Louis-Philippe armchair on a stormy night, ministered to by a nurse who maddens him with her attention, a secretary, two maids, and a chaffer-manservant whose amorous adventures amuse the old man. Police guard the house.

France is in one of its crisis, without a government, and the Premier has just heard on the wireless that a certain Chalamont has been asked to lead a coalition but has declined to give his decision till the next day. Interviewed, Chalamont seems nervous and apprehensive and the old Premier listens with sardonic satisfaction, for he alone knows the reason why.

He alone knows, and has a signed paper concerning, an episode in the past which could dash all Chalamont's hopes of the most powerful office in the French Republic. This and other incriminating documents are hidden between the leaves of books in the Premier's library. The Premier knows that his books have been searched, for he has often found them disarranged. The press knows of the enmity between him and Chalamont. Chalamont is even asked if he intends to spend his night of decision 'on the road'; and the Premier sits up late in to the night, wondering if Chalamont will come to parley with him.

By the time morning comes, both the Premier's suspense and the readers' are resolved to a quiet, convincing close; and Simenon has once again created a full, real character with classical economy of means, and shown an unsuspected mastery of the working of political intrigue.

Collapsible content

Georges Simenon

Georges Simenon was a Belgian writer. A prolific author who published nearly 500 novels and numerous short works, Simenon is best known as the creator of the fictional detective Jules Maigret.


Simenon's first novel, Au Pont des Arches, was written in June 1919 and published in 1921 under his "G. Sim" pseudonym. Writing as "Monsieur Le Coq", he also published more than 800 humorous pieces between November 1919 and December 1922.


From 1921 to 1934 he used a total of 17 pen names while writing 358 novels and short stories.

  • 5 Unmissable Debut Novels Coming in Early 2025

    5 Unmissable Debut Novels Coming in Early 2025

    David Headley

    With 2025 already promising to be an incredible year for publishing, we asked our booksellers at our London and Brighton bookshops which debut novels they’re most excited about in early...

    David Headley

    5 Unmissable Debut Novels Coming in Early 2025

    With 2025 already promising to be an incredible year for publishing, we asked our booksellers at our London and Brighton bookshops which debut novels they’re most excited about in early...

  • Goldsboro Books Brighton is Hiring - Part-Time Brighton Bookseller

    Goldsboro Books Brighton is Hiring - Part-Time ...

    Rebecca McDonnell

    Are you passionate about books and eager to share your love of literature with others? Goldsboro Books, the UK's leading independent retailer of signed first editions, is seeking an experienced...

    Rebecca McDonnell

    Goldsboro Books Brighton is Hiring - Part-Time ...

    Are you passionate about books and eager to share your love of literature with others? Goldsboro Books, the UK's leading independent retailer of signed first editions, is seeking an experienced...

  • 3 Tips For Squeezing More Reading Time Into 2025

    3 Tips For Squeezing More Reading Time Into 2025

    David Headley

    Determined to read more books this year, but struggling to see where you’ll find the time? You’re certainly not alone! But worry not - our booksellers share their favourite tips...

    David Headley

    3 Tips For Squeezing More Reading Time Into 2025

    Determined to read more books this year, but struggling to see where you’ll find the time? You’re certainly not alone! But worry not - our booksellers share their favourite tips...

  • 10 Must-Read Books Released This January

    10 Must-Read Books Released This January

    David Headley

    Ready to kick off the new year with some of the most unmissable new releases of 2025?We asked our booksellers to share which titles they’re most looking forward to reading...

    David Headley

    10 Must-Read Books Released This January

    Ready to kick off the new year with some of the most unmissable new releases of 2025?We asked our booksellers to share which titles they’re most looking forward to reading...

NaN of -Infinity