Which writer today does not dream of being awarded by the prestigious Goncourt Prize in the historic (1880s) Drouant restaurant? Every year, the greatest French-language authors await this prize that distinguishes a French-language novel. What is the origin of this award? The will of two brothers in the 19th century: Jules and Edmond de Goncourt.
Edmond de Goncourt was born in 1822 in Nancy, 8 years before his brother Jules. The 2 will collaborate professionally all their lives by writing their works with four hands. Precursors of the literary movement of Naturalism, they see the novel as the testimony of current History. In a concern of realism, each of their novels are built around a character that they have been close to from near or far.
For them, writers are the historians of the present. From this point of view, they describe in their books a raw and unadorned society, adopting the point of view of the little people. They carry out research in an almost scientific manner and study the places they describe in detail.
Sharp critics of good society, they trace in this diary the in-depth observation of their contemporaries. They put down on paper their memories and a few anecdotes, often unflattering, of the politicians or artists they frequent, which will earn them the nickname of "viper tongues".
After Jules' death, his brother Edmond never stopped signing his books in both their names and, in his will, he bequeathed his fortune not to an heir but to an "unborn foundation". Indeed, the two brothers planned to found a literary society that would reward the works of French authors with an annuity: in 1902 the Académie Goncourt was created.
Today, the literary prize bearing their name is the most prestigious in France and has already distinguished Châteaubriand, Simone de Beauvoir and Romain Gary... The annuity initially planned by the two brothers, today a symbolic sum of 10 euros, in no way detracts from the national and international prestige of this award, which is always highly coveted by the greatest French authors.
Beyond this posterity, the vision of literature and the writings of the 2 brothers will also inspire famous writers such as Emile Zola or Marcel Proust. The author of "A la recherche du temps perdu" having received... the Goncourt prize!
Find out more about the Academy and the prize awarded for the 1st time on December 21, 1903.
Marie from Comme des Français
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To prolong the stroll through the artistic Paris of the 19th century: