The prestigious Prix Goncourt 2023 has just been announced! It was awarded to writer and director Jean-Baptiste Andrea for his book Veiller sur elle. The author, honored for his fourth novel, received the award at a ceremony held at the famous Parisian restaurant Drouant, located in the capital's 2nd arrondissement. Veiller sur elle is a work distinguished by its metaphysical nature, exploring the themes of sculpture, presence and absence. The novel follows the consecration of Brigitte Giraud 's Vivre vite in 2022, against a backdrop of internal dissension within the Goncourt jury.
In detail, Veiller sur elle is a fresco that transcends genres, combining autobiography and fictional biography. The story centers around Michelangelo "Mimo" Vitaliani, an imaginary sculptor, and his most mysterious creation: a pietà endowed with hypnotic powers. The whole story is a journey through time, weaving together an artist in love with marble and his dreams, and a work of art that both moves and bewilders. Jean-Baptiste Andrea, with his Italian family origins, plunges the reader into a context rich in emotion and history, offering a profound reflection on art, life and their inextricable links.
Jean-Baptiste Andrea 's career is as fascinating as his writing. Born in 1971, the author has already won acclaim for his previous novels published by L'Iconoclaste, not least for his unique style that blends realism and poetry. His stories often feature characters from shattered childhoods who find refuge and a form of existence in artistic creation. They are journeys through reconstructed lives, extreme adventures in which each character seeks to give meaning to his or her existence.
This recognition comes on top of her Fnac Novel Prize earlier in the year. This novel, which offers an immersion in the creative process and the quest for identity, is now available in bookshops everywhere!
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