Académie Goncourt
Encyclopedia
The Société littéraire des Goncourt (Goncourt Literary Society), usually called the académie Goncourt (Goncourt Academy), is a French literary organization based in Paris. It was founded by the French writer and publisher Edmond de Goncourt
(1822-1896). He wanted to create a new way to encourage literature in France, and disagreed with policies then of the Académie française
.
Wishing to honor his deceased brother Jules
(1830-1870), Goncourt bequeathed his estate to establish an organization to promote literature in France
. He named his friend, the writer Alphonse Daudet
, to oversee and administer his estate. Each December since 1903, a ten-member board of the Académie has awarded the Prix Goncourt
for the best work of fiction
of the year.
Membership is reserved to writers who have produced works in the French language, but it is not limited to citizens of France. In 1996, the Spanish
novelist and scriptwriter Jorge Semprún
was elected as the first foreigner to become a member of the academy.
In addition to the Prix Goncourt, which comes with a symbolic cheque of 10 euros, the Académie Goncourt awards honors for first novel and achievements in short story, poetry and biography genres.
The ten members of the academy are usually called les Dix (the Ten). They meet the first Tuesday of each month, except in summer. Since 1914, they have convened in an oval room, the salon Goncourt, on the second floor of the Restaurant Drouant, place Gaillon, in the heart of Paris. The cutlery
which they use while dining there constitutes the main physical continuity of the academy. Each new member receives the fork and knife of the member whom he (or she) is replacing, and the member's name is engraved on the knife and the fork.
Edmond de Goncourt
Edmond de Goncourt , born Edmond Louis Antoine Huot de Goncourt, was a French writer, literary critic, art critic, book publisher and the founder of the Académie Goncourt.-Biography:...
(1822-1896). He wanted to create a new way to encourage literature in France, and disagreed with policies then of the Académie française
Académie française
L'Académie française , also called the French Academy, is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language. The Académie was officially established in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII. Suppressed in 1793 during the French Revolution,...
.
Wishing to honor his deceased brother Jules
Jules de Goncourt
Jules de Goncourt , born Jules Alfred Huot de Goncourt, was a French writer, who published books together with his brother Edmond.- Works :With Edmond de Goncourt:* Sœur Philomène...
(1830-1870), Goncourt bequeathed his estate to establish an organization to promote literature in France
French literature
French literature is, generally speaking, literature written in the French language, particularly by citizens of France; it may also refer to literature written by people living in France who speak traditional languages of France other than French. Literature written in French language, by citizens...
. He named his friend, the writer Alphonse Daudet
Alphonse Daudet
Alphonse Daudet was a French novelist. He was the father of Léon Daudet and Lucien Daudet.- Early life :Alphonse Daudet was born in Nîmes, France. His family, on both sides, belonged to the bourgeoisie. The father, Vincent Daudet, was a silk manufacturer — a man dogged through life by misfortune...
, to oversee and administer his estate. Each December since 1903, a ten-member board of the Académie has awarded the Prix Goncourt
Prix Goncourt
The Prix Goncourt is a prize in French literature, given by the académie Goncourt to the author of "the best and most imaginative prose work of the year"...
for the best work of fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
of the year.
Membership is reserved to writers who have produced works in the French language, but it is not limited to citizens of France. In 1996, the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
novelist and scriptwriter Jorge Semprún
Jorge Semprún
Jorge Semprún Maura was a Spanish writer and politician who lived in France most of his life and wrote primarily in French. From 1953 to 1962, during the era of Francisco Franco, Semprún lived clandestinely in Spain working as an organizer for the exiled Communist Party of Spain, but was expelled...
was elected as the first foreigner to become a member of the academy.
In addition to the Prix Goncourt, which comes with a symbolic cheque of 10 euros, the Académie Goncourt awards honors for first novel and achievements in short story, poetry and biography genres.
The ten members of the academy are usually called les Dix (the Ten). They meet the first Tuesday of each month, except in summer. Since 1914, they have convened in an oval room, the salon Goncourt, on the second floor of the Restaurant Drouant, place Gaillon, in the heart of Paris. The cutlery
Cutlery
Cutlery refers to any hand implement used in preparing, serving, and especially eating food in the Western world. It is more usually known as silverware or flatware in the United States, where cutlery can have the more specific meaning of knives and other cutting instruments. This is probably the...
which they use while dining there constitutes the main physical continuity of the academy. Each new member receives the fork and knife of the member whom he (or she) is replacing, and the member's name is engraved on the knife and the fork.
Current members
- François NourissierFrançois NourissierFrançois Nourissier was a French journalist and writer.Nourissier was the secretary-general of Éditions Denoël , editor of the review La Parisienne , and an adviser with the Éditions Grasset Paris publishing house .In 1970, he won the Prix Femina for his book La crève...
, elected 1977; Secretary-General 1983, President 1996-2002 - Daniel BoulangerDaniel BoulangerDaniel Boulanger is a French novelist, playwright, poet and screenwriter. He has also played secondary roles in films and has been a member of the Académie Goncourt since 1983.-Filmography:...
, elected 1983 - Robert SabatierRobert SabatierRobert Sabatier was born on the 17th of August 1923 in Paris. He is a French poet and writer.He has written numerous novels, essays and books of aphorisms and poems. He was elected to the Académie Goncourt in 1971, as well as to the Académie Mallarme...
, elected 1971 - Françoise Mallet-JorisFrançoise Mallet-JorisFrançoise Mallet-Joris is the nom de plume of Françoise Lilar.She was born in Antwerp, the daughter of the writer Suzanne Lilar and the Belgian Minister of Justice and Minister of State Albert Lilar, and the sister of the 18th century art historian Marie Fredericq-Lilar...
, elected November 1971 - Didier DecoinDidier DecoinDidier Decoin is a French screenwriter and writer awarded the Prix Goncourt in 1977.-Biography :...
, elected 1995; currently Secretary-General - Edmonde Charles-RouxEdmonde Charles-RouxEdmonde Charles-Roux is a French writer.-Origin :She is the daughter of Francois Charles-Roux, Ambassador of France, member of the Institute of France, and last president of the Suez Canal Company....
, elected September 1983; President since February 2002 - Jorge SemprúnJorge SemprúnJorge Semprún Maura was a Spanish writer and politician who lived in France most of his life and wrote primarily in French. From 1953 to 1962, during the era of Francisco Franco, Semprún lived clandestinely in Spain working as an organizer for the exiled Communist Party of Spain, but was expelled...
, elected 1996 - Michel TournierMichel TournierMichel Tournier is a French writer.His works are highly considered and have won important awards such as the Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française in 1967 for Friday, or, The Other Island and the Prix Goncourt for The Erl-King in 1970...
, elected 1972 - Françoise ChandernagorFrançoise ChandernagorFrançoise Chandernagor is a French writer, born June 15, 1945. She is the daughter of André Chandernagor. She is a former student of the National School of Administration - École nationale d'administration, and she became a member of the Council of State in 1969.-Biography:In 1991, Françoise...
, elected June 1995 - Bernard PivotBernard PivotBernard Pivot, OC, CQ is a journalist, interviewer and host of French cultural television programmes. He is a member of the Académie Goncourt.-Biography:Pivot was born in Lyon, the son of grocers...
, elected October 2004