The Prix Théophraste-Renaudot or Prix Renaudot is a French literary award.

History

The prize was created in 1926 by ten art critics awaiting the results of deliberation of the jury of the Prix Goncourt. While not officially related to the Prix Goncourt, it remains a complement to it: The Prix Renaudot laureate is announced at the same time and place as the Prix Goncourt, namely on the first Tuesday of November at the Drouant restaurant in Paris. The Renaudot jurors always pick an alternative laureate in case their first choice is awarded the Prix Goncourt. The prize is named after Théophraste Renaudot, who created the first French newspaper in 1631. In 2013, the Prix Redaudot essay revived the career of Gabriel Matzneff, which collapsed in 2020 as his paedophilia – long known and defended by his literary peers, including the Renaudot jurors – became more widely known through a report of one of his victims, Vanessa Springora. In the view of The New York Times, the episode illustrated "the self-perpetuating and impenetrable nature of many of France's elite institutions", including the Prix Renaudot, where "control often rests with a small, established group — overwhelmingly older, white men — that rewards like-minded friends", disregarding conflicts of interest. At the time, only one woman sat on the jury of the prize. French media also criticized the prize, and one judge, Jérôme Garcin, left the jury, but no changes took place.

Jury

As of 2021, the jury consists of:

Laureates

Other awards

Prix Renaudot de l'essai

Prix Renaudot du livre de poche

Prix Renaudot des lycéens