Brigitte Giraud becomes the thirteenth woman to receive the Goncourt award, with Vivre vite

This year could mark a turning point for the Académie Goncourt. The jury made an exception, Thursday 2 November 2022, by awarding the prize to a book that does not fall into the category of the novel.

As usual, the announcement of the Goncourt award was given at the Drouant restaurant, in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris. This year Paule Constant, a member of the Académie Goncourt, dealt with the long-awaited literary revelation. Le Goncourt is attributed to Brigitte Giraud for her novel live fast on the 14th ballot with five votes to five for the novel by Giuliano da Empoli, The wizard of the Kremlinthe president’s voice counting double “, Announced on Thursday 2 November 2022.

Brigitte Giraud becomes the thirteenth woman to receive the Goncourt award, with Vivre vite

The exception of the non-novel

Brigitte Giraud’s book, published by Flammarion, is a story about mourning. According to Info France, the 62-year-old author traces the accidental death of her partner, Claude, 23 years ago, following a motorcycle accident. It is rare for a book that is not a novel to win the Goncourt. As mentioned Teleramain recent years the great books have been removed from the list of awards for the same reason.

Two best-selling books are better than one.

Didier Decoin, President of the Goncourt Academy

It is perhaps to debate that the jury took 14 rounds to decide. Perhaps also the reason why Brigitte Giraud went head to head with Giuliano da Empoli. The author of Wizard of the Kremlin (Edizioni Gallimard), however, can console himself with the Grand Prix du roman awarded to him by the Académie française on 29 September 2022. Didier Decoin, president of the Académie Goncourt, whose double vote made the difference in this tight ballot, explained his choice: ” [Giuliano da Empoli] no need to blush. The Grand Prix du roman of the French Academy is a very good prize and besides, her book is already selling very well. And I think of the booksellers. Two best-selling books are better than one.. “.

The winners of Goncourt

Among the other finalists Cloé Korman, author of almost sisters (edited by du Seuil) and the Haitian novelist Makenzy Orcel, author of A human sum (edited by Shores). The consecration of live fastreleased on August 24, consisting of Brigitte Giraud the thirteenth woman to receive the Goncourt Prize since it was first awarded in 1903. There are also Marie NDiaye (2009), Lydie Salvayre (2014) and Leïla Slimani (2016).