Within the framework of the Francophonie Month, a roundtable discussion took place at YSU Charles Aznavour Cultural Center. During this event, students from the Chair of French Philology at the Faculty of European Languages and Communication discussed the top four books competing for the prominent Goncourt Prize: Houris, Madelaine avant l’aube, Archipels, and Jacaranda. The discussion was led by French volunteer, Canten.
For the first time in its century-long history, the Goncourt Prize is officially present in Armenia. This renowned literary competition, which has been organized for 121 years, expanded its geographical reach in 1998 and is now held in several countries. Each participating country selects its winner through a jury composed of students from local universities, who choose the best work from those nominated for the Paris-based Goncourt Prize.
The most famous and prestigious literary award in the Francophone world has national juries, which also include Armenian Francophone students. Armenia now has its own jury, composed of 30 students from Yerevan State University, the French University in Armenia, and V. Brusov State University.
The main goal of this event is to promote the spread of the French language and French literature, support the discovery of contemporary Francophone authors, and promote their works beyond the borders of France.
After several months of reading and discussing the eight books, the students will select the winning work on March 31. The Newmag publishing house will translate the winning book into Armenian and publish it.
