The Deux Magots literary prize was awarded this Monday, October 7, 2024 to Jean-Pierre Montal for his fifth novel At the North Face (Editions Séguier), during a ceremony at the famous Parisian café of the same name, located opposite the Saint-Germain-des-Prés church. The novelist seduced the jury with his atypical love story between a 48-year-old man and a 72-year-old woman, born from an encounter in a local cinema in 1957, when the film was released. She and him by Leo McCarey.
The jury, chaired by the journalist and writer Étienne de Montety, chose Jean-Pierre Montal after a close vote, with five votes against four for Joël Egloff and his work These fierce soldiers (Buchet Chastel). The other finalists, Emmanuelle Lambert for No respect (Stock) and Christophe Bigot for Another one is waiting for me elsewhere (La Martinière), did not receive any votes during the last deliberation. Étienne de Montety greeted At the North Face as a novel combining “elegance and sentimentality”, evoking “nostalgia for a certain Paris, for certain human relationships and a certain culture”.
The book explores themes of age difference and the power of cinema on feelings. The story begins when a man and a woman, passionate about McCarey’s film, begin a lively discussion after a screening and discover affinities that bring them closer beyond their age difference. The novel captures this unlikely encounter with sensitivity, exploring the complexity of feelings at an age where memories weigh more than hopes.
Founded in 1933, the Deux Magots prize aims to reward authors with little media coverage but great talent. It distinguishes itself from more academic prizes by recognizing original and atypical works. Previous winners include renowned authors such as Raymond Queneau, Antoine Blondin and Christian Bobin. Jean-Pierre Montal, publisher and former co-founder of Editions Rue Fromentin, joins a prestigious line of winners.
This year, the prize comes with 7,700 euros. The jury, which paid tribute to its missing member Benoît Duteurtre, praised Montal’s talent, qualifying At the North Face of novel “in the great French tradition of concision and the study of feelings”. Jean-Pierre Montal succeeds Guy Boley, winner of the 2023 edition for his book To my only sister (Grasset), further affirming his place among the notable writers of the contemporary literary scene.
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