France’s top literary prize in 2025 awarded to author Laurent Mauvignier

France’s Top Literary Prize in 2025 Awarded to Laurent Mauvignier

French novelist Laurent Mauvignier has been named the 2025 recipient of the esteemed Prix Goncourt, the most renowned Francophone literary distinction. He was honored for his novel La Maison Vide, a candid exploration of his family's history spanning several generations.

The book, published earlier in 2025, has yet to appear in English translation. Mauvignier is also known for his earlier work Histoires de la Nuit, released in English as The Birthday Party and longlisted for the 2023 International Booker Prize.

“The author receives just €10 in prize money under the rules of the Prix Goncourt.”

Adélaïde de Clermont-Tonnerre won the concurrent Prix Renaudot prize for her novel Je voulais vivre, traditionally announced alongside the Goncourt.

Background of the Prix Goncourt

The Prix Goncourt, established in 1903, stands as the most prestigious of France’s “big six” literary awards and one of the most respected literary honors worldwide. It is decided annually by the ten members of the Société littéraire des Goncourt (also known as the Académie Goncourt), recognizing the author of the best French-language novel of the year.

Although French authors dominate the list of winners, the prize has also celebrated writers from Algeria, Senegal, Morocco, and Afghanistan. One notable winner is Kabul-born Atiq Rahimi, who claimed the award in 2008 after relocating to France in the 1980s as a political refugee. The modest €10 reward reflects the symbolic value of the original ten francs offered to the first laureate over a century ago.

Author’s Summary

The 2025 Prix Goncourt went to Laurent Mauvignier for La Maison Vide, a multi-generational family narrative, reaffirming the award’s long-standing tradition of celebrating literary excellence beyond France’s borders.

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The Connexion The Connexion — 2025-11-05

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