Thibault de Montaigu, winner of the 2024 Interallié prize

For his novel GraceThibault de Montaigu received the Flore prize in 2020. Here he is now winner of the Interallié prize for his seventh autobiographical novel called Heartpublished by Albin Michel.

The story of Heart is overwhelming. It all starts with a gift, a father in decline gives his son his signet ring as the author explains:

“He is going to give me this signet ring which belonged to my great-grandfather, who died in the last cavalry charge on the first day of the war of 14. And he is going to ask me to investigate this great-grandfather and this a death which, for him, is mysterious because he left with his sword drawn on his horse, against German machine guns and cannons. He died a hero, but he probably sought to die because he experienced an intimate drama in his life before. The book is therefore above all an investigation into this family secret that I must reveal to my father.”

Thibault de Montaigu, the narrator of the novel, sets out both in this family search and in a personal quest to try, as he says himself, to understand who he is, what he has inherited from his ancestors and what ‘he will pass it on to his own children.

Writing this book is a bit like offering a paper tomb to all these ghosts who inhabited me and to all these ancestors. Especially my father, obviously. Knowing that he is still present in this book, that people are discovering him, that they can hear his voice… he still has this form of life. This is the power of literature. And that’s why I write.

Thibault de Montaigu

at franceinfo

I chose “Works”, by Alejandra Pisarnik, who lived in the 20th century in Argentina. She is a sort of cursed poet because she committed suicide at the age of 36. These are very short poems, in free verse, which explore the tumults of his inner world.

Thibault de Montaigu

at franceinfo

The author adds, about this poet whom he particularly appreciates: “It combines a very great economy of words with a deep emotional charge. Each time, in a few lines we are devastated, a sort of explosion, saturation of meaning. As if we were opening a door: all of a sudden, a vertigo of meaning opens before us.”

Works by Alejandra Pizarnik, published by Epsilon publisher, and Hearttwo beautiful books to offer or treat yourself!