The French Literary award, announced on Wednesday via videoconference, was given to the best book in French language literature to mark its 33rd anniversary.
Djaili’s book, Les Impatientes, focuses on themes of violence against women, girl child early marriage, patriarchy and polygamy. These are plot stories that were inspired by her own life experiences.
The head jury, Clemence Nomine, commended the book’s style of writing with the use of simple language devoid of needless verbosity which enabled easy comprehension.
Clemence, in her words, described it as “a book without superfluous lyricism. ”
The award, created in 1987, is usually sponsored and organised by the French Ministry of Education with the Minister, Jean-Michael Blanquer, also in attendance during the announcement.
The Prix Goncourt des Lyceens is a literary award that operates through the readership of lycee – high school students who engage in group discussions and vote the winner.
