The Terre de France literary prize will be awarded in Vendée on December 15

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Created in Vendée 41 years ago by Yves Viollier and Régine Albertthe Terre de France prize took a three-decade detour to Brive-la-Gaillarde (Corrèze), before returning to its roots in Pays de la Loire. “We wanted to go back to basics, especially since the price was no longer really readable in Brive with the growing success of its book fair,” explains Yves Viollier, president of the Terre de France association.

December 15it is in the case of Fontevraud Abbey what will be awarded the Terre de France prizeas well as a more recent price, that of Ouest-France Terre de Francecreated seven years ago. “Nothing is more logical for a newspaper rooted in the life of the territories than to associate itself with a prize which promotes the stories of the terroirs”, maintains Jeanne Hutin, departmental director Ouest-France in Vendée.

Great feathers and discoveries

“It’s interesting to have two prizes from the same selection,” explains Yves Viollier, “because we have echoes of both.” The two juries will work on a selection of five books presented by Étienne de Montety, journalist at Le Figaro and president of the prize for three years.

We have quality authors, both famous and lesser known, who all express the literature of countries and roots, highlighting their capital importance, their beauty, their hardness, their charm and their secrets.

Among the participantswe find famous figuresas Françoise Chandernagor, member of the Académie du Goncourtrecognized for its high-quality historical works. “She never talked about herself the way she does in River Gold. Now she immerses herself in her Creuse roots with surprising strength, almost a call from her origins,” testifies the president of the jury.

On the other hand, beginner authors, like Philippe Bonilowho wrote a magnificent first novel, Pauline or childhood. “It is the minimalist story of a man who returns to his village, carried by the memory of an idealized young woman in his memory. It addresses the passing of time and its impact on memory. »

Among the locals, Patrice Jean from Nantes stands out with The Life of Specters“a book rooted in the city of Nantes, evoking its rich heritage and culture. A way of telling the story of the life of a journalist in Nantes. » Another selected, Emmanuel Rubenis the author of Malvillea novel of anticipation on the nuclear issue. “It is a very literary work on the lost illusions of the 70s, questioning respect for nature and the population. »

To conclude, the second novel ofAbigail Assor, David’s Night“bears an elliptical, almost biblical title, but it actually tells the story of fraternal complicity in the kingdom of childhood, on the banks of the Loing, in the Loiret”.

Juries of authors and readers

By mid-December, the juries will meet. That of Ouest-France is made up of readers of the newspaper, while that of Terre de France brings together Parisian and local personalities: the journalist and writer Frantz-Olivier Giesbert, the Vendée author Yves Viollier, or Catherine Blanloeil, editor, who began the adventure by participating in the Ouest-France readers’ jury. “Some members of the juries have the art of sharing their favorites, of shaking up the prizes that are too expected, settled into a routine. When passion prevails, it’s great! » enthuses Étienne de Montety.

The suspense will end on December 15, when the names of the two winners of the 2024 edition, or even just one, will be revealed. In seven editions, this has only happened once, in 2021, when Éric Fottorino, journalist and writer, was rewarded for his book Mohican.

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