The novel A thousand secrets, a thousand hazards, by Quebec author Alain Farah, triumphed in its category at the prestigious 2022 Governor General’s Literary Awards, the 14 winners of which are announced this Wednesday.
Each year, the Canada Council for the Arts rewards the best French and English books published in seven categories. The books selected this year were published between 1er August 2021 and July 31, 2022. There were 70 finalist books in all categories, in both official languages.
Alain Farah’s autobiographical novel triumphed in the Novels and short stories category. This one addresses the joys and sorrows encountered over the years by the author in his forties, with as a backdrop one of the defining moments of his life: the day of his marriage to his wife Virginie. The other four finalists in the category were Dominique Fortier, Larry Tremblay, Maryse Andraos and Charlotte Biron.
The collection of poetry Children of the lichenby Maya Cousineau Mollen, won the race in its category, while the political satire The weight of ants, by David Paquet, was considered the best text in the Theater category. The distinction of the best essay of the year in the country also goes to Sylveline Bourion, for her book The Roman road.
Two prizes were also awarded in French for works of children’s literature, either to Julie Champagne, for her text Cancer ascendant Austriawhich tells the story of a teenager ready to do anything to save her mother suffering from cancer, as well as to Nadine Robert, for the illustrated book Clover. The best translation, from French to English, goes to Mélissa Verreault for the book Small game hunting party between cowards at the local shooting club.
Concerning the English-language works, it is the novel Pure Color, by author and philosophy enthusiast Sheila Heti, who triumphed in this category. the book Shadow Blightby Annick MacAskill, was named best work of poetry in the language of Shakespeare, while the essay A Person as Worthy as the Earthwritten by Aki-Wayn-Zih, stood out in its category. The theater text The Piano Teacher: A Healing Keyby Dorothy Dittrich, was also hailed by the jury.
The authors, translators and illustrators whose book is among the winners will receive a sum of 25,000 dollars, while the publishing houses concerned will collect a grant of 3,000 dollars.