Why are there so many French literary awards?
Other than the 'Richard and Judy book prize', I was pretty darn ignorant of the literary scene (forgive me!). But then, I hopped over to France and was bombarded with prizes from all corners of the page (forgive me again - terrible pun).
If you click right here, a tidal wave of 56 French literary awards will come crashing down on your face.
So here's a sweet guide to get you through pub conversations with French people and make you look all clever and that.
1. What on earth is the Prix Goncourt?
This one's the big daddy. Created 112 years ago, this award aims to pin point "the best and most imaginative prose work of the year". The jury hustle together around November time in a Parisian restaurant called 'Drouant' to announce the winner. Who says tradition never dies? Not me.
The winner receives a grand total of...drum roll please...10 euros. It's the taking part that counts. For those of you who read 'Hello!' magazine, you can read all about the controversy/gossip here.
2. Is the Prix Renaudot a type of fruit?
No, you silly sausage. It's the younger brother of the Prix Goncourt. It's named after Théophraste Renaudot who invented the first ever ever ever French newspaper...and he also has the coolest name ever.
Highlights include: Louis Aragon, J.M.G. Le Clézio and Irène Némirovsky.
3. What about the ladies?
I know right! The Prix Femina was set up a couple of months after the Prix Goncourt to quell the male jury. But because women are less biased, the prize is awarded to men AND women. To top it all, the first meeting was held in good old Albion - even Virginia Woolf got in on the action.
4. I can't get my head around the Grand Prix du Roman de l'Académie française!
Neither can I! According to trusty Wikipedia, it's another old and prestigious award. The interesting part is who it's awarded by: the Académie française. They're like the grammar police (not kidding) who are in charge of the dictionary and getting rid of all those Franglais words. What a bother!
And to put a cherry on the cake, the members are called les immortels...they each get a sword and a coat embroidered with green leaves ... cough Harry Potter cough.
5. Should I be worried about the Prix Médicis?
Groan, not the Medicis again, thought I got rid of those at A-level (Pope Leo X, Pope Clement VII and all that malarkey).
Enough moaning, the prize was created in 1958 on April Fools' day, and aims to celebrate "l'auteur débute ou n'a pas encore une notoriété correspondant à son talent"...can't be bothered to translate.
Interesting fact: the president of the jury alternates in alphabetical order. Another interesting fact: the ceremony was first held in the Hôtel de Crillon - a hotel that makes Oscar Wilde's extravagance a little comical.
6. What the Dickens is the Prix Décembre?
You're in for treat, I've nearly stopped blabbing. I'll make this quick: originally called the Prix Novembre, founded in 1989, had a bit of controversy around the time when Michel Houellebecq won it.
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