The 2024 Renaudot High School Students Prize was awarded today in Loudun, birthplace of Théophraste Renaudot, to Olivier Norek for his novel The Winter Warriors (Michel Lafon). Olivier Norek will travel to Loudun in December to meet the 400 high school jurors.
Regarding the novel The Winter Warriors, the jurors declared that they were seduced by “ the documentary precision of the story as well as the very good balance between the historical facts and the intrigue “. The jurors also appreciated “ the lyrical and poetic pen » from the author, « the importance given, in the story, to the lives of the soldiers and the parallel with the current conflict between Ukraine and Russia ».
In this novel, Olivier Norek returns to a little-known episode of the Second World War: the Winter War between Finland and the USSR. Faced with the Soviet ogre who has decided to cross its border, the Finnish people stand up, and among their soldiers a legend is born, that of Simo, the White Death.
The community of communes of Pays Loudunais, the town of Loudun, the association Les Amis de Théophraste Renaudot and the Rectorate of the Poitiers academy organize the Renaudot High School Students Prize.
The Renaudot des Lycéens Prize is 400 high school students, spread across France and Europe, who read, debate and choose the winning novel, from a selection of five novels from the Renaudot Prize selection of the same year.
The Renaudot des Lycéens Prize is the recognition by the authors and publishing houses who were lucky enough to be awarded prizes, for quality work, based on the pleasure of reading and incorruptibility of jurors
The Renaudot Prize for High School Students is a literary adventure, supported by the hometown of Théophraste Renaudot and partners who are committed to bringing contemporary literature and the legacy of this illustrious character, doctor, philanthropist and France’s first journalist to life. .
A memorable experience for high school students
For several months (between September and December), 400 high school students from 16 establishments in France and abroad (Romania and Madagascar) become real literary jurors. This living experience of reading, brought to life by the meeting with the winning author, constitutes a strong human experience.
The high schools participating in the 2023 Renaudot High School Prize are:
→ Nantes Academy:
the Duplessis Mornay high school (Saumur) the Saint Felix la Salle high school (Nantes)
→ Limoges Academy:
Auguste Renoir high school (Limoges)
→ Bordeaux Academy:
the Jean Cassaigne high school (Saint-Pierre-du-Mont)
→ Academy of Poitiers:
Guy Chauvet high school (Loudun)
Marc Godrie high school (Loudun)
Berthelot high school (Chatellerault)
Nelson Mandela high school (Poitiers)
Ernest Perrochon high school (Parthenay)
Les Grippeaux high school (Parthenay)
the Haut Val de Sèvre high school (Saint-Maixent l’Ecole) the Léonce Vieljeux high school (La Rochelle)
Bernard Palissy high school (Saintes)
→ Orléans-Tours Academy:
the François Rabelais high school (Chinon)
→ Foreigner:
the French high school of Tananarive (Madagascar)
the Costache Negri national college in Galati (Romania)
Photo credits: Olivier Norek – © Pauline Darley / Michel Lafon
FILE – Selections, juries, winners: the 2024 back-to-school literary prizes
By Hocine Bouhadjera
Contact : [email protected]
