(Paris) The first selection of novels for the most prestigious French literary prize, the Prix Goncourt, revealed on Tuesday, with 16 titles, includes Gaël Faye and Kamel Daoud, among the stars of this literary rentrée in France.
These two titles were among the most scrutinized, one being the second novel by an author known for the best-selling Small country in 2016, the other having narrowly missed the 2014 Goncourt for Meursault, counter-investigation.
The surprises are the arrival in the list of a former author of detective novels, Olivier Norek, who this time talks about the Russo-Finnish war of 1940, and of a book that does not resemble a novel, that of Thomas Clerc, a vast stroll in the north of Paris.
The prize is to be awarded on November 4, at the Drouant restaurant in Paris, as tradition dictates.
Before that, a second selection is planned for the 1ster October, then the names of the four finalists will be revealed on October 22.
The 16 selected titles are also in the running for the Prix Goncourt des lycéens, awarded on November 28, and the Prix Goncourt des prisonniers, presented on December 17.