Kamel Daoud Wins 2024 Prix Goncourt with 'Houris'
Kamel Daoud, a prominent French-Algerian writer, has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Prix Goncourt for his novel 'Houris'. The announcement was made on November 4, 2024, at the Drouant restaurant in Paris, marking a significant moment in Daoud's literary career. This novel, which will be published in Italy by La nave di Teseo next May, delves into the harrowing experiences during the Algerian civil war of the 1990s.
Born in 1970 in Mostaganem, Algeria, Daoud is not only a novelist but also a journalist for 'Quotidien d'Oran'. His previous works include the acclaimed 'Meursault, contre-enquête', which earned him international recognition. In 'Houris', Daoud narrates the story of Aube, a young woman grappling with the scars of war and the complexities of motherhood amidst trauma. The narrative explores themes of memory, loss, and the struggle for identity in a society that often silences its past.
The decision to award Daoud the Goncourt Prize is seen as an act of political courage, especially given the controversy surrounding the novel, which led to the exclusion of Gallimard from the upcoming Algiers International Book Fair. The Algerian government has imposed laws that penalize discussions of the civil war, making Daoud's work even more significant as it challenges these restrictions. In a statement, Daoud reflected on the necessity of literature in conveying the depth of war experiences, emphasizing that journalism alone cannot encapsulate the complexities of such narratives.
