Writers Gaël Faye and Kamel Daoud are among the first shortlisted winners of the Prix Goncourt, unveiled on Tuesday, September 3. The prestigious prize will be awarded on November 4.
The first selection of novels for the Prix Goncourt revealed on Tuesday, with 16 titles, includes Gaël Faye and Kamel Daoud, among the stars of this literary rentrée.
These two titles were among the most scrutinized, one being the second novel by an author known for the best-selling Small country in 2016, the other having narrowly missed the 2014 Goncourt for Meursault, counter-investigation.
The surprises are the arrival in the list of a former author of detective novels, Olivier Norek, who this time talks about the Russo-Finnish war of 1940, and of a book that does not resemble a novel, that of Thomas Clerc, a vast stroll in the north of Paris.
Awarded on November 4th
The most prestigious French literary prize is to be awarded on November 4, at the Drouant restaurant in Paris, as tradition dictates.
Before that, a second selection is planned for October 1, then the names of the four finalists will be revealed on October 22.
The 2024 Goncourt will keep the same jurors as in 2023, but has changed president. Philippe Claudel was elected to this position in May, succeeding Didier Decoin, while Camille Laurens became secretary general.
In June, the Académie Goncourt even raised its age limit by five years, to 85, to allow all its members to remain on the jury.
The 16 selected titles are also in the running for the Prix Goncourt des lycéens, awarded on November 28, and the Prix Goncourt des prisonniers, presented on December 17.
The first selection:
Ruben Barrouk, All the noise of Guéliz (Albin Michel)
Thomas Clerc, Paris Museum of the 21st Century: the Eighteenth Arrondissement (Midnight)
Sandrine Collette, Madelaine before dawn (JC Lattes)
Kamel Daoud, Houris (Gallimard)
Gail Faye, Jacaranda (Grasset)
Helen Gaudy, Archipelagos (The Olive Tree)
Philippe Jaenada, Casualness is a beautiful thing. (Mialet-Barrault)
Maylis of Kerangal, Day of surf (Vertical)
Etienne Kern, The better life (Gallimard)
Emmanuelle Lambert, No respect (Stock)
Rebecca Lighter, The Lost Boys Club (POL)
Carole Martinez, Sleep your brute sleep (Gallimard)
Thibault of Montaigu, Heart (Albin Michel)
Olivier Norek, The Winter Warriors (Michel Lafon)
Jean-Noel Orengo, You are the Führer’s unhappy love (Grasset)
Abdellah Taïa, The Bastion of Tears (Julliard)
