Le Goncourt handed over on November 30 despite the closure of bookstores

Djaïli Amadou Amal is one of the four finalists at Goncourt for Les impatientes, which will be awarded on November 30.

Share November 13, 2020 9:38 a.m. Share Le Goncourt awarded on November 30 despite the closure of Agence France-Presse PARIS bookstores – Le Goncourt, prestigious French literary prize which was to be awarded on November 10, will finally be awarded on November 30, with the hope that bookstores would then be reopened or about to reopen, the jury announced on Friday.

“The Goncourt academics met this Friday, November 13 in the morning by videoconference and, following the words of the Prime Minister the day before, announce that they will proclaim the Goncourt 2020 prize on Monday November 30,” said the Goncourt Academy in a press release .

On Thursday, the head of government Jean Castex hinted at the possibility of reopening “non-essential” businesses from December 1.

The Goncourt academics wished to anticipate a happy outcome for the booksellers.

“Everyone wants everyone to be able to buy books for the holiday season. This date of November 30, which should precede – finally – the essential reopening of bookstores, will allow booksellers to be supplied on time, ”they added.

On October 29, on the eve of the start of a second confinement which meant the obligation for bookstores to close their doors, the Goncourt Academy had indicated that it was postponing it “to an undetermined date”.

“For academics, there is no question of handing it over so that it benefits other sales platforms,” she said.

Other awards have followed this line, such as the Renaudot, traditionally awarded the same day, or the Interallié, as well as the Goncourt for high school students. But some preferred to keep their date. The Femina and the Medici, for example, were awarded on November 2 and 6 respectively.

Booksellers have the right to sell pre-ordered books by mail order or on their doorstep.