Gaël Faye, Kamel Daoud, Hélène Gaudy… The authors still in the race for Goncourt

The Goncourt Academy unveiled its second selection this Tuesday, reduced to eight novels, still in the running to win the prestigious autumn prize. The four finalist books will be known on October 22 and the winner on November 4.

Awelcomed by large and fervent crowds of readers at each of its appearances at festivals or in bookstores, unanimously praised by the press for a second novel, Jacaranda (ed. Grasset), entered the week of its publication (August 14) at the top of the bestseller rankings, Gaël Faye already appears as the winner of this 2024 literary season. No need for a prize to decide and verify it – but why not to consecrate this dazzling state of affairs? The Goncourt Academy has chosen to include Jacaranda on its second list, reduced to eight titles (compared to sixteen for the first), made public this Tuesday, October 1.

Gaël Faye’s beautiful, lucid and serious novel is accompanied by very estimable competition. On the side of the outsiders: Madelaine before dawn, by Sandrine Collette (ed. JC Lattès), Archipelagos, by Hélène Gaudy, (ed. de l’Olivier) and You are the Führer’s unhappy love, by Jean-Noël Orengo (ed. Grasset). And on the safe bets side, all present on other lists, Houris, by Kamel Daoud (ed. Gallimard), The Bastion of Tears, by Abdellah Taïa (ed. Julliard), Casualness is a beautiful thing, by Philippe Jaenada (ed. Mialet-Barrault) and Surf day, by Maylis de Kerangal (ed. Verticales).

We will know in three weeks, on October 22, the four finalist novels. And on November 4, the book was finally rewarded this fall with the most prestigious (and prescriptive) of the autumn literary prizes – ten days after the Grand Prix du roman of the French Academy which will open, on October 24, the laurel season.