The 2024 Montreal Book Grand Prize goes to Soreloise Élise Turcotte “Self-portrait of another”

The City of Montreal is proud to award, this year, the Grand Prix du livre de Montréal and the associated $15,000 scholarship to Élise Turcotte for her work. Self-portrait of anotherdescribed by Alto editions as “an impossible conversation about art, madness, exile, thought and death”. For the occasion, the author received a binding of her work, produced this year by the modern binding workshop Delphine Platten.

Élise Turcotte becomes the fifth person to win the Grand Prix du livre de Montréal for the second time since its creation in 1965. She received the honors for Guyana (Leméac, 2011).

The author is a poet, short story writer and novelist and her works have been rewarded many times by various Quebec literary prizes. Élise Turcotte is the winner of the 2024 Athanase-David Prize, the highest distinction awarded to a person for their remarkable contribution to Quebec literature. She won the Governor General’s Literary Award for her novel The Foreign House (Leméac, 2002), as well as the Ringuet Prize from the Académie des lettres du Québec for The Apparition of the Chevreuil (Alto, 2019).

Self-portrait of another is an intimate and family story, which takes shape and which intersects with the cultural and intellectual history of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. It was able to touch the jury. It is an exploration of the self very skillfully turned towards the other, in fluid and captivating writing. The author seeks to revive the memory of a woman whose life must not be forgotten, in a kind of investigation which will never be truly resolved.

“With great freedom of writing, the author seeks to revive the memory of a woman whose life must not be forgotten, an investigation which will never be truly resolved. The intimate and family story that is outlined intersects with the cultural and intellectual history of the 60s, 70s and 80s. It is an exploration of the self very skillfully turned towards the other in fluid and captivating writing. A genealogy of sadness invested with a vital momentum of complicity, worry and hope”declared Carole David, president of the jury, poet and novelist.

“The Grand Prix du livre de Montréal is an opportunity to celebrate the richness and diversity of our literary heritage. This year, we have the honor of recognizing Élise Turcotte for her work Self-portrait of anotherwhich offers us a profound reflection on our humanity and our collective history. As a cultural metropolis, Montreal is proud to support literary talents who promote the French language, enrich our culture and inspire the community”expressed the mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante.

“The Grand Prix du livre de Montréal demonstrates the City’s leadership in promoting cultural and literary excellence. Self-portrait of another by Élise Turcotte is a work remarkable for its depth and poetry, which reminds us of the power of literature in building a more enlightened and empathetic society. This award helps propel Montreal as a true cultural metropolis. It is a privilege to celebrate and support authors who make our city shine. I congratulate Élise Turcotte whose work stands out for the second time in the Grand Prix du livre”underlined the head of culture, heritage, gastronomy and nightlife on the executive committee, Ericka Alneus.

The City thanks the members of the 2024 jury, composed of Daniel Grenier, Marie-Pascale Huglo, Josianne Létourneau, Luba Markovskaia and Akos Verboczy, under the presidency of Carole David.

She also congratulates the four finalists, who win a $1,000 scholarship.

Discover the winning work and the finalist works by clicking here.