Albert-Charles Simonin

Albert-Charles Simonin (born April 18, 1905—died Feb. 15, 1980, Paris) was a French writer who brilliantly exploited the language of the Parisian underworld in tough, fast-talking thrillers that rivaled those of the leading American practitioners in the genre. The authenticity of Simonin’s work was guaranteed by his upbringing in La Chapelle district of Paris, where he left school at 12 years of age to do a variety of jobs, including stints as a chimney sweep,...