The Man Who Watched The Trains Go By by Georges Simenon
The novel follows Kees Popinga, a respectable Dutch businessman whose life unravels after discovering his employer's financial fraud. As his stable existence collapses, Popinga impulsively flees to Paris, abandoning his family and embracing a life of crime and deception. Throughout his journey, he grapples with his identity and morality, transforming from a law-abiding citizen into a fugitive. The story delves into themes of existential crisis and the thin veneer of societal respectability, exploring how quickly an ordinary life can descend into chaos.
The 5960th greatest book of all time
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- Published
- 1938
- Nationality
- Belgian
- Length
- Short
- Pages
- 200-250
- Original Language
- French
- Avg User Rating
-
(3.5)
- Alternate Titles
-
- Monsieur Monde Vanishes
- O Homem Que Via Passar Os Comboios
- The Man Who Watched Trains
- The Man Who Watched Trains Go By
- The Man Who Watched the Trains
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This book is on the following 2 lists:
- A Century of World Literature 1925 - 2025 (Der Spiegel)
- The 100 Novels You Must Read in Your Lifetime (Esquire)