Lisette Lombe and Diadié Dembele are on the first selection for Societe Des Gens De Lettre’s Grands Prix 2024 announced on Monday, April 29, 2024.
Societe Des Gens De Lettre (English: The Society of People of Letters) (SGDL) is a French association for the promotion of law and the defence of the interests of authors. Founded in Paris on April 16, 1838, it was based on an idea by Louis Desnoyers, supported by Honoré de Balzac and a committee of writers. It is a private association recognized as an establishment of public utility by decree.
One of the activities of the SGDL is the awarding of writers which includes SGDL Grand Prize for Literature (founded 1947), Grand Prix Poncetton (started 1970), SGDL Grand Prize for Poetry (created in 1983). For a single piece of work, they have the SGDL Grand Prix for the novel (1947 – 2016) which transitioned to SGDL Grand Prix for Fiction in 2017, SGDL Grand Prix for short stories (created in 1984), SGDL Grand Prize for History Book/Essay (created in 1986), SGDL Grand Prix for Youth Books (created in 1982), and Grand Prix for radio fiction from the SGDL, created in 2008.
The jury for 2024 is chaired by Paul Fournel and composed of authors: Ella Balaert, Jean-Noël Blanc, Georges-Olivier Châteaureynaud, Dominique Fabre, Michel Lambert, Dominique Le Brun. The first selection that they will be looking through in the different categories will feature the following writers of African descent;
Grands Prix SGDL de Fiction Première Sélection
Endowed with €4,000, the SGDL Grand Prix de la Fiction rewards a work of fiction (novel, short story, story, etc.) by an established French or French-speaking author.
- Deux grand hommes et demi, Diadié Dembele, JC Lattès
Prix SGDL Révélation DU 2ème ROMAN Première Sélection
Endowed with €4,000, this prize rewards new talents in French and French-speaking literature and rewards a second novel.
- Eunice, Lisette Lombe, Éditions du Seuil
The winner will be announced during the “Espèces d’auteurs” (Species of Authors) festival organized by the SGDL on June 8.
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