List of 15 novels chosen for the Goncourt Prize in the year 2025
France's Prestigious Goncourt Prize Announces 2025 Contenders
The Goncourt Prize, the oldest and most prestigious literary award in France, has announced the 15 novels in competition for the 2025 edition. The list includes a mix of established figures and new literary voices, as well as some of the most prominent authors in the French literary scene.
Among the contenders is Emmanuel Carrère, known for his novel 'Kolkhoze,' which is one of the most anticipated titles in this year’s prize. Carrère is one victory away from achieving a remarkable feat, as winning the Goncourt would make him the first writer to accumulate a Femina (1995), a Globe de Cristal (2010), a Renaudot (2011), and a Goncourt.
Other notable authors on the list include Nathacha Appanah, David Diop, and Laurent Mauvignier. Emerging authors such as Paul Gasnier and Hélène Laurain are also part of the competition, adding an exciting twist to the race for the coveted prize.
The Goncourt Prize jury, composed of esteemed authors and literary figures, met at the restaurant Drouant in Paris to establish the first selection for the 2025 Goncourt Prize. The prize is awarded annually by the Académie Goncourt for 'the best work of imagination in prose published in the year.'
Since its creation in 1892, the genre of the works crowned by the Goncourt Prize has predominantly been fiction. This year is no exception, with fifteen novels in competition.
The name of the 2025 Goncourt Prize laureate will be announced on November 4, 2025. In the past, winning the Goncourt Prize has brought significant sales success to the winning novels. For example, L'Anomalie by Hervé Le Tellier (winner in 2020) has exceeded 1.5 million sales in paperback, La plus secrète mémoire des hommes by Mohamed Mbougar Sarr (winner in 2021) has surpassed 550,000 copies, and Veiller sur elle by Jean-Baptiste Andrea (winner in 2023) has generated over 760,000 sales.
The selection process will continue, with the finalist list being reduced to four novels on October 28, 2025. The second list of novels in competition will be made public on October 7, 2025.
As the race for the 2025 Goncourt Prize heats up, readers and literature enthusiasts eagerly await the announcement of the winner, who will join the ranks of prestigious authors who have won this coveted prize in the past.
