A surprise entry on the first Goncourt list
Among this year's Goncourt selection is a novel few saw coming: 'Bataille au procès' by Patrice Trigano, published by Gilles Nadeau, the 83-year-old son of the legendary editor Maurice Nadeau.
The first selection for the Prix Goncourt, announced this week, includes a title that caught much of the literary press off guard: 'Bataille au procès', by Patrice Trigano, according to Bibliobs (Le Nouvel Obs). The novel's presence on the list is notable above all for who put it there.
Its publisher is Gilles Nadeau, 83, son of Maurice Nadeau, the editor and critic credited with discovering Claude Simon and Michel Houellebecq. Bibliobs reports that the selection has prompted reactions from both author and editor, framing the story around how the two are experiencing this unexpected recognition.
Beyond the names involved, the source material gives no detail on the novel's subject, length, or release date, nor on the rest of the Goncourt list. What stands out, as Bibliobs frames it, is the element of surprise itself: a book that was not on anyone's radar suddenly finds itself in contention for France's most closely watched literary prize.
Sources
This article was written from these reports.
