The Renaudot Prize turns 100, celebrating a century of literary history and its reputation as an 'anti-Goncourt' with unpredictable choices and iconic winners.
Centenary decision for the Renaudot Prize
The Renaudot Prize jury will decide on Tuesday, November 3, who will succeed Adélaïde de Clermont-Tonnerre, the 2025 winner of the prize for her book Je voulais vivre (Grasset). This decision marks the centenary of the award, which has grown from a journalists' joke into a major literary event.Origins of the Renaudot Prize
The Renaudot Prize was created in 1926 after a group of journalists and critics at the Paris restaurant Drouant joked about creating their own award during the Goncourt Prize deliberations. It was named after Théophraste Renaudot, founder of La Gazette, the first French newspaper.Renaudot's unique character
The Renaudot Prize shares some traditions with the Goncourt Prize, like the timing of its announcement and the selection process. However, it has built a reputation as an "anti-Goncourt" by favoring unconventional choices and not offering a financial reward, unlike the Goncourt Prize's ten-euro check.First Renaudot winner and centenary reprint
The first Renaudot Prize was awarded in 1926 to Armand Lunel for Nicolo-Peccavi ou l’Affaire Dreyfus, a novel exploring the Dreyfus affair. To mark the centenary, the book was reprinted in 2026 with new prefaces by Manuel Carcassonne and an unpublished introduction.Renaudot's literary impact
The Renaudot Prize has been a platform for groundbreaking works, such as Louis-Ferdinand Céline’s Voyage au bout de la nuit in 1932 and Michel Butor’s La Modification in 1957. It has also recognized young talents like Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio at 23 and later Georges Perec and Danièle Sallenave.Renaudot and Goncourt: Rivalry and overlap
While the Renaudot and Goncourt Prizes often compete, they also share connections. Many Renaudot laureates have been on Goncourt shortlists, and some Goncourt winners have served on the Renaudot jury. The two prizes influence each other, with members moving between juries.Renaudot's unpredictability and controversies
The Renaudot Prize is known for its unpredictability, sometimes choosing winners outside the final shortlist. However, it has faced criticism over transparency and the influence of jury members. The prize also has a gender imbalance, with only three women on the ten-member jury and a lower number of female winners compared to other prizes.Renaudot's progress on gender
Despite its history of male dominance, the Renaudot Prize has made progress in recognizing women. Four of the last six winners have been women, and it was the first French literary prize to award a woman in 1930. Only 18 women have won the prize in its history, including Nobel laureate Annie Ernaux.
