The Widow Lerouge: Yellowbacks

Emile Gaboriau, a French author, novelist, journalist, and father of detective fiction, lived from 9 November 1832 to 28 September 1873. Gaboriau was born in the Charente-Maritime village of Saujon. He was the son of Marguerite Stéphanie Gaboriau and Charles Gabriel Gaboriau, a public figure. After working as Paul Féval's secretary and publishing a few novels and other works, Gaboriau discovered his true talent in L'Affaire Lerouge (1866). Le Siècle published the work, which immediately established his reputation. When Sherlock Holmes was invented by Arthur Conan Doyle, Monsieur Lecoq's international notoriety waned, and Gaboriau attracted a sizable following. In 1872, the tale was performed on stage. The police court's history was the subject of a protracted series of novels that quickly gained popularity. Gaboriau died from pulmonary apoplexy in Paris. In 13 years, Gaboriau produced 21 novels (originally published in serial form) thanks to his fertile imagination and astute observation. He gained notoriety when L'Affaire Lerouge (The Widow Lerouge) was published in 1866, after the release of a number of additional books and other publications.