Rare foray into the world of literary prizes

(Paris) Quebec writer Kevin Lambert has a good chance of winning the December Prize, which must be awarded this Tuesday in Paris. To better understand the culture very French literary prize and its impact on the book industry, we spoke with the critic Arnaud Viviant, author of the enlightening Goncourt station (Editions La Fabrique) and member of the jury for the December Prize. Straightforward interview.

You are one of the 12 members of the jury for the December prize. Do you think Kevin Lambert can win?

Difficult to answer, but I think I will vote for him. First of all, it is a novel, which is not the case with other books on the list, and I have always tended to value the novel over other literary genres. May our joy remain is also perfectly contemporary in the sense that it tells something that should torment us, namely the existence of the ultra-rich, an elite who have taken control of the world and who do so in a specific context which is Montreal, with stories gentrification, land taken from Indigenous people. He has faults of brashness from his youth, but overall it’s like he’s moved on.

How does the December prize compare to the Flore prize, for which you are also a juror?

The December price has this particularity that it does not particularly sell. But he awards a large sum, even if it was reduced by half on the death of his patron. We went from 30,000 to 15,000 euros [environ 22 000 $ CAN]. This is an interesting sum in an environment where money does not circulate very well. Writers are finding it more and more difficult to live. It’s an important price from that point of view. It is also a more classic price in its taste, compared to the Flore price, which is more “rock n’ roll”.

According to your book, being a literary prize juror comes down to drinking, eating and voting. It’s true ?

That’s been it for a long time. Money problems mean that at the December price, we now meet in a café at 11 a.m. We just have coffee and chat. Total sobriety! Before, we went to lunch in a very good restaurant. We were drinking. It completely changed the atmosphere… and maybe even the decisions! Flore’s price is different. We meet at lunchtime at the Café de Flore to eat and vote. In the evening, it’s a party. It’s very important, the idea of ​​a party at Flore’s expense. It’s a story of worldliness. We remove all the tables. We Dance. The only time I’m courted in the year is when this evening approaches. People remember that I exist and ask me if I can’t bring them in. The other prices next to it are almost Protestant! Le Goncourt, they meet for lunch [midi], but there is no party. The Renaudot, I think the jurors pay for their meal. For Femina, they meet in a café…

You estimate that there are 2000 literary prizes in France, or possibly 5000. Is that too many, in your opinion?

There can’t be too many, since in a certain way, it enhances literature. But it is true that I see them born every day. Now, it is the luxury industry which is beginning to sponsor literary prizes. Hotels, perfume brands, watches… It’s odious, because it makes you think that literature is a luxury product! What I also notice is that in these new prizes, the jurors are no longer necessarily people from the profession, but footballers, presenters, people. In fact, any bookstore, any village or festival can create its prize. There are also sectoral prices. I count around fifty, just for the detective novel! There is the musical novel prize. The 30 million friends prize, considered the Goncourt of animals. And hoax prizes, like the Page 111 Prize… [remporté cette année par Kevin Lambert].

How to explain this proliferation?

The first explanation is that it is a parallel mode of financing literature. That is to say, the author receives a check, tax-free. The smaller the prices, the smaller the check. The second thing, very important, is generally what we call “literary life”. A prize means a pot. We’re going to have a drink. It creates a somewhat festive event. Opportunity makes the thief, if I dare say so. Not bad. Except we don’t get paid to do it…

The Goncourt Prize remains the most prestigious of all these prizes. It will be delivered on November 7. What do you think of the finalists?

What I notice is that this year, we are starting to break with tradition. Until very recently, the Goncourt Prize scrupulously followed the will of the Goncourt brothers, who said that it was necessary to favor the novel genre. But there is an opening to the dogma established since 1903. I think of the book sad tiger, from Neige Sinno. That said, in my opinion, she will not win. Because it is a book about incest, very harsh and very raw. A Goncourt is normally intended to fit under the Christmas tree. However, this book is not the ideal gift for family peace. On the other hand, it is not excluded that she wins the December prize…

So the Christmas tree is a criterion?

Absolutely. You must not be fooled. The Goncourt prize works for publishing and bookselling. A bad Goncourt price means 250,000 sales. A good Goncourt Prize can go up to 2 million… When I say good, I’m not talking about literary criteria, but commercial ones.

A few years ago, there was a lot of criticism of the “Galligrasseuil” hegemony, meaning that books published by Gallimard, Grasset and Seuil always shared the biggest prizes, including the Goncourt. We denounced cronyism, a form of corruption. Bad for credibility?

Of course. And above all, it gave very bad prices – I’m thinking especially of Goncourt! That changed when Bernard Pivot became president. He was asked to clean the Augean stables. What he did. We can say that for around twenty years, it has more or less worked. Without too many ethical problems.

What do you say to those who say that prices are killing the market? That there are those who win, and that the others will only get crumbs?

Yes, that’s somewhat true. But I can tell you from experience – I’ve been doing this for 30 years – that there aren’t many mistakes. We rarely miss a writer.

Goncourt station

Arnaud Viviant

The fabric

192 pages