In the historic setting of the Carnavalet Museum in Paris, the Prix Femina 2024 was awarded on Tuesday November 5, marking a landmark event in the French literary calendar. And it was author Miguel Bonnefoy who was honored this year for his work Le Rêve du jaguar, a work that unfolds as both a deeply moving personal narrative and a hard-hitting essay on sexual violence.
With Le Rêve du jaguar, 37-year-old Miguel Bonnefoy tells the story of a mute beggar from Maracaibo, Venezuela. She takes in a newborn baby who, through hard work and perseverance, will become a great surgeon. An inspiring marriage, a child, descendants... And a family saga, all written with flamboyant flair!
The Prix Femina 2024 did not limit itself to recognizing "national" talent. Foreign literature was also celebrated, with Chilean writer of Palestinian origin Alia Trabucco Zeran winning the Prix Femina étranger for Propre, published by éditions Robert Laffont. Meanwhile, in the essay category, Paul Audi won for Tenir tête, published by Stock.
The announcement of the Prix Femina thus opened the literary season with panache, preceding the prestigious Prix Goncourt by a breath, and closely followed by the announcements of the Renaudot and Médicis awards. These awards, which continue to shape the year's literary landscape, are all opportunities to celebrate literature and recognize the voices that dare to tackle crucial themes in our society. We hope you enjoy your reading!
