The Goncourt Prize jury announced in Bucharest the four finalist authors for the prestigious 2024 literary distinction. They are Sandrine Collette (with Madelaine Before Dawn), Kamel Daoud (Houris), Gael Faye (Jacaranda), and Helene Gaudy (Archipels), jury president Philippe Claudel told a press conference held on Tuesday at the National Museum of Romanian Literature in Bucharest.

Claudel said that it is "an honor for Goncourt" to unveil the shortlist in Bucharest, pointing out that France and Romania are connected by "very strong ties".

"Reading a book means joy, but for us, the jury, it also means a great responsibility, not just towards the readers, not just towards the authors, but toward the publishers too, because it depends on us that this book, the sole recipient of the prize this year, just like always, is representative for each of us. The Goncourt Prize means this: recognition, but also embedding in a national and international trend. Reading a book means (...) to sit opposite the other, to get closer to them, get in contact with their ideas, with their sensitivity. (...) And this also means meeting other cultures that bring us closer to other fellow people through translation and enrich us. And if the young people, alongside the other readers, will look at literature, at these now four books like this, the battle to keep our audience is won. We'll meet on November 4, when we will make the final choice," said Philippe Claudel before announcing the four titles entered in the final of France's oldest and most important literary award.

In Madelaine Before Dawn, Sandrine Collette challenges the order of things, examines the instinct to revolt, and offers the reader - served with mind-blowing writing - an ode to family bonds, a brief description of the novel shows.

Houris takes a critical look at the official management of the memory of the 90s violent events in Alegeria, which deeply traumatized the country's society, exploring the themes of religion, freedom and identity. Daoud continues to discuss existential and societal problems, offering his readers a deep reflection on the contemporary world, reads the presentation of the novel.

Jacaranda paints a five-generation picture of Rwanda's history and tries to break the silence of the country after the genocide against the Tutsi. Gael Faye's gently narrates the terrible story of a country that tries, against all odds, to dialogue and forgive, it is shown in the presentation.

Archipels approaches the theme of exploration and perfectly illustrates the author's unique narrative style, which combines fiction and reality. The book is a poetic reflection on memory and family ties, reads the presentation of the book.

Attending the Bucharest presentation of the four Goncourt Prize finalists were seven of the ten jury members, namely Pascal Bruckner, Tahar Ben Jelloun, Camille Laurens, Paule Constant, Pierre Assouline, Philippe Claudel, and Didier Decoin.

Also present at the event were French ambassador to Romania Nicolas Warnery, executive president of the French Institute in Paris Eva Nguyen Binh, and Julien Chiappone-Lucchesi - the director of the French Institute in Romania.

Ambassador Warnery emphasized the importance of the event taking place in Bucharest, as the French Institute in Romania celebrates 100 years of cultural, artistic, academic, educational and scientific cooperation.

"It's a wonderful opportunity to celebrate French literature this year, when the French Institute in Romania marks its centennial anniversary," said Nicolas Warnery.

The name of this year's Goncourt winner will be announced in Paris on November 4, at the famous Drouant restaurant, which has been home to the deliberations of the Prix Goncourt jury since 1914.

The value of the prize is symbolic, at just 10 euros, but it guarantees celebrity and massive sales for the chosen novel.

Previous winners include Marcel Proust, André Malraux, Elsa Triolet, Simone de Beauvoir and Marguerite Duras. AGERPRES (RO - author: Petronius Craiu, editor: Florin Marin; EN - editor: Simona Klodnischi)