The Goncourt Academy unveils its first selection of 15 novels, including one by Emmanuel Carrère

Among this selection of 15 novels, one will follow Houris by Kamel Daoud, winner of the 2024 Goncourt . But which one? The list unveiled this Wednesday, September 3, includes Kolkhoz by Emmanuel Carrère, Night in the Heart by Nathacha Appanah, Farewell to the Face by David Deneufgermain, Where the Sky Leans Back by David Diop, An Infinite Love by Ghislaine Dunant, Collision by Paul Gasnier, Passengers by Night by Yanick Lahens, The Beautiful Obscure by Caroline Lamarche , Tambora by Hélène Laurain, The Name of Kings by Charif Majdalani, The Empty House by Laurent Mauvignier, Twilight of Men by Alfred de Montesquiou, Perpetuity by Guillaume Poix , Tremble by Maria Pourchet, and A Brother by David Thomas.

Considered one of the favorites to succeed Houris , Emmanuel Carrère's novel Kolkhoze (POL) is one of the many novels of the literary rentrée whose mother is the subject. It relates the life of Hélène Carrère d'Encausse who, after her death in 2023 at the age of 94, received a national tribute at the Invalides after a life devoted to the study of the Soviet Union and then to the French Academy, of which she was the permanent secretary.

Last year, Kamel Daoud's award-winning novel caused a stir, particularly due to the controversy surrounding the alleged theft of an Algerian woman's story in his book. The first Algerian winner of the Goncourt Prize has defended himself against these accusations, but has learned that he is the target of two international arrest warrants from Algeria.

In the context of a prolific literary season, with more than 500 novels published between August and October, the war is raging on the publishers' side, although a dominance has emerged over the 122 years of the prize's existence. Gallimard dominates this ranking, with 39 Goncourt prizes won, almost one in three. Grasset (17) and Albin Michel (12) complete this podium. Only authors cannot indulge in the little game of winning multiple prizes: it can only be awarded once in a writer's career. The only double winner to circumvent the rule was Romain Gary, who mystified the jury by publishing La Vie devant soi under the pseudonym Emile Ajar.

Being on the shortlist of 15 already guarantees a certain amount of exposure, but the field is set to narrow. The ten members of the Académie Goncourt will narrow the finalists to eight, then to four, on October 7 and 28. The prize will then be awarded on November 4 at the Drouant restaurant in central Paris, according to a well-established tradition.