Arnaud de la Grange, winner of the Lamartine prize from the Departments of France

« A powerful novel of great beauty, carried by writing full of color and poetry “. Here is how the members of the jury of the Lamartine Prize of the Departments of France described the work ofArnaud de la Grange, The promise of the open sea (Gallimard). This traces the story of Aidan, an orphan following a shipwreck who decides, at the age of 26, to find the trace of his parents in Brittany.

Arnaud de la Grange succeeds Maylis Adhémar and his book The Great Bear (Gallimard) and thus wins against Fantastic love storyof Sophie Divry (Threshold), Cezembred’Helene Gestern (Grasset), Among other solitudesd’Yves Harté (Le Cherche Midi) and The two Francesof Vincent Jeanbrun (Albin Michel). The winner will be presented with their prize by François Sauvadetpresident of Departments of France.

Highlight French territories

Created in 2018 by the Association of Departments of France and the writer Denis Tillinacthe Lamartine Prize rewards each year a literary work contributing to highlighting departments and territories by promoting them through French literature.

For the seventh edition, the jury was chaired by Florence Bertrand-Kerverndoctor in private law, professor at Paris-Dauphine University and founder of a heritage management institute. It was composed ofEric Neuhoffjournalist and writer, Dominique Calonia lawyer by training and former representative of press groups, Hubert Delaumegeneral practitioner in rural areas, Martine Gasquet-Daugreilhformer MP and Director of Culture for the City of Nice, Pierre MonzaniSenior prefect, Xavier Patiersenior civil servant and writer and Alyssia Andrieuxterritorial collaborator.