91st Prix des Deux Magots: first selection

The jury for the Prix des Deux Magots is made up of the following personalities:

Étienne de Montetydirector of Le Figaro Littéraire and writer, president of the jury Laurence Caracalla, journalist Nicolas Carreau, journalist, columnist and author Jean Chalon, journalist and writer Jean-Luc Coatalem, journalist and writer Pauline Dreyfus, writer Clara Dupont-Monod, publisher and writer Jessica Nelson, writer and co-founder of Éditions des Saint Pères Marianne Payot, journalist Abel Quentin, writer

On the evening of the first selection, the jury paid tribute to Benoît Duteurtre, writer, radio producer, music and literary critic, who passed away during the summer.
He had been a member of the Prix des Deux Magots jury since 2022, and of the Prix Pelléas jury, also presented at Café Les Deux Magots.

The jurors also noted the resignation of writers Pierre Kyria and Jean Chalon , and thanked them for their commitment to the Prix des Deux Magots.

The Prix des Deux Magots, 91 years of freedom of spirit

Created in 1933 as a reaction to the Prix Goncourt, deemed too academic, the Prix des Deux Magots is one of France’s oldest literary awards. The €7,700 prize is awarded to a French-language book published during the year.

Its aim is to highlight a literary talent, whether a novelist or essayist, who has just emerged or who, in the eyes of the jury, does not yet enjoy the recognition it deserves.

However, as the jury’s choice is largely based on enthusiasm and personal preference, it is not precluded from voting in favor of a work that meets other criteria.

In the ninety-one years of its existence, the Prix has rewarded the works of such famous authors as Raymond Queneau (for his first novel Le Chiendent), Antoine Blondin, Albert Simonin, Pauline Réage, Sébastien Japrisot, Christian Bobin and Jérôme Garcin… True to its vocation as a discoverer, it has distinguished and revealed the work of such authors as Marc Dugain, Serge Joncour and, more recently, Pierre Adrian.