The 39th literary prize of the City of Saint-Amand-Montrond, rewarding the author of a first novel, was awarded on Saturday to Paul Saint-Bris for L’allègement des varnishes.
This year, the jury chose to dedicate the 39th Alain-Fournier Prize to Paul Saint-Bris. The latter was to receive it at the book fair in April, but unable to be present, it was given to him yesterday at the Isabel-Godin library.
A date not chosen at random, since it commemorates the birth of Alain-Fournier, October 3, 1886 in La Chapelle-d’Angillon.
In “land of literature”
The mayor, Emmanuel Riotte, was keen to welcome the author’s entry into the “beautiful family of winners of the Alain-Fournier prize which includes big names, like Amélie Nothomb”.
Paul Saint-Bris, winner of the 2024 Alain-Fournier prize, receives his prize for lightening varnishes, in the company of the deputy Loïc Kervran, the mayor of Saint-Amand-Montrond, Emmanuel Riotte, and the deputy mayor, in charge of culture, Raphaël Fosset.
With Lightening of varnishes, Paul Saint Bris wins the 39th Alain-Fournier prize from the City of Saint-Amand-Montrond
Raphaël Fosset, deputy mayor, in charge of culture, underlined the quality of the work: “a thriller, which offers an immersion into the world of painting and restorers. A questioning in the quest for the sublime, which addresses the difficulties in accepting the passage of time”.
When the deputy of Cher, Loïc Kervran welcomed him to “this literary land”. Paul Saint-Bris took advantage of the moment to express his admiration for the work of Alain-Fournier, The Grand Meaulnes, and his gratitude for being part of such a list, which obliges him in the future. And the story does not seem to end there, since an adaptation of the work is “on track”, according to its author.
Chloe Goigoux
