No, but Kevin Lambert had to win at least one French literary prize in this crazy autumn that he experienced. It’s done with the December price, we can take a breather. At 31, Lambert thus became the youngest winner and the first Quebec writer to receive this prize created in 1989, with a nice grant of 15,000 euros (around $22,000), for his third novel. May our joy remain.
He learned the good news on Tuesday while he was taking a nap after arriving in Paris that morning, as he hoped to be in good shape to celebrate his prize at an evening at the Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent foundation. “It’s a colorful arrival,” admits the writer, whom I was able to contact quickly as soon as I received the announcement – there were many Kevin Lambert “alerts” in my diary this season.
Our joy remained week after week with his presence in the lists of the grand prizes: Goncourt, Goncourt of high school students and prisoners, Blù Jean-Marc Roberts, this December which he has just won… only the Medici remains where he is still in the race, but he doesn’t have too many illusions. That’s what’s nice about Kevin Lambert; he doesn’t have a big head and remains rational. But this December prize obviously makes him very happy.
It’s the one I’m most happy to win, because I knew I had a chance. For the other prizes, already being named, it is a form of prize in itself. What’s cool about December is the jury. There are really a lot of people that I admire, I feel a bit like family.
Kevin Lambert
This jury is made up of Maxime Catroux, Claude Arnaud, Chloé Delaume, Christophe Honoré, Charles Dantzig, Laure Adler, Patricia Martin, Amélie Nothomb and Arnaud Viviant, who chose to crown May our joy remain, published by Héliotrope in Quebec and by Nouvel Attila in France. Kevin Lambert now joins winners like Lola Lafon, Christine Angot, Michel Houellebecq, Mathias Énard, Lydie Salvayre, Jean Echenoz and Raphaël Confiant who have been rewarded in the past with this prize perceived as an “anti-Goncourt”.
When I talk about a crazy autumn for Kevin Lambert, I must remember that it began in the summer with the controversy surrounding Prime Minister François Legault’s reading of his novel, followed by his numerous nominations, enthusiastic reviews and interviews in the most important publications, and a new controversy on the subject of sensitive reading of manuscripts. What I found particularly beautiful to see during this marathon was the way in which the writer responded to requests and defended his novel. He was on every platform, until Everybody talks about it recently.
“It’s the least we can do to support your book,” he explains. For me, it is my duty. We have to do it not just for us, but for the publishers. They take commitments and risks by publishing to us. It was not easy for a French publishing house like Le Nouvel Attila to publish my first two novels, Quarrel And You’ll love what you killed. »
But having known what awaited him, he would have planned his travel schedule better. While working on his postdoc and his next book, as well as other projects, he had to hop on a plane to France more than once. Being there for the literary prizes can play a role in the unpredictable decisions of the juries. In short, he was not idle and experienced a roller coaster of emotions. “I’m gutted, really crushed,” he admits, laughing.
We didn’t know so much was going to happen. Every time something positive happened, there was something negative, it was up and down. This makes no sense, I came back three times! I do research for my postdoc, I read colonial reports on the plane, I don’t stop for a second.
Kevin Lambert
This adventure, however, was a great learning experience for him about the literary world and the functioning of juries in France. “I also learned that it is still difficult to have an intellectual reflection on a controversial issue in the public space,” he notes. Everyone wants something and it’s hard to set limits. I explained my point of view, but I realized that people have their own ideas, no matter how much debate we have. I have become disillusioned with the media treatment of controversies and I am a little fed up with all that. »
I have to thank him for the great ride this season, because Kevin Lambert kindly responded to all my interview requests every time he made the news, often with this photo where he was wearing that famous striped sweater not far from become iconic, when I interviewed him for the release of May our joy remain More than a year ago. I could never have guessed then that these photos would be so useful later, with the wonderful destiny of his novel which will continue to attract readers. But I can guess very well what this loner is dreaming of after this incredible whirlwind. “I can’t wait to be in the woods, go cross-country skiing and read what tempts me. »
I still keep my fingers crossed for the Medici…