The 37th Goncourt prize for high school students was awarded to Sandrine Collette for her book “Madelaine avant l’aube” this Thursday, November 28 in Rennes. This author who lives in Morvan had already received the Jean Giono Prize and the Renaudot des lycéens in 2022. She tells us about her emotion at having received this prestigious prize.
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There were only five novels left in the running for the Goncourt des lycéens 2024, cThursday, November 28. The jury made up of 13 high school students rewarded the novel “Madelaine Before Dawn” by Sandrine Colette. The book tells the story of an abandoned wild child who will upset a timeless village, eaten away by cold and hunger. Based in La Comelle, in Autunois, for several years, it is in Burgundy that she draws her inspiration.
Sandrine Collette: It’s disbelief, out of superstition and to protect ourselves from disappointment, we tell ourselves that there is little chance of obtaining it. When I realized it was true, it was a lot of emotion. It refers to many things, to the progress made over the past dozen years. I’m completely groggy because it’s causing a whirlwind that I really didn’t imagine!
We have to hold on because I have received around 800 messages, and I am trying to answer them. The interviews keep coming, I receive a lot of requests for signings from booksellers. And the booksellers, they are the ones who made me from the beginning, I have always had their support from the booksellers.
I’m completely groggy because it causes a whirlwind that I really didn’t imagine.
Sandrine Collette: Curiously, but not so much, the jury found themes that concern them, although the novel takes place in the distant past: poverty, the climate with the great cold. We see that this theme concerns them. There are also family relationships, relationships with animals. A lot of things finally hit them.
The 37th Goncourt prize for high school students was awarded to Sandrine Collette for the book Madelaine avant dawn
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© THOMAS BR?GARDIS / OUEST-FRANCE / MAXPPP
Sandrine Collette: For the next few days, the schedule is busy. For some time now, I have been traveling around France meeting in bookstores. Since the Goncourt selection of high school students, I have been going to meet the young public. And since the price, the demands are increasing.
I am no longer used to the hustle and bustle since I have been in Morvan
Sandrine Collette: I’m no longer used to the hustle and bustle since I’ve been in the Morvan and I’m going to need to walk under the cover of the trees to regain energy and get going again. It’s my burrow, my cocoon.
