Académie Goncourt

It was founded in 1882 by the French writer and publisher Edmond de Goncourt (1822–1896), who wanted to create a new way to encourage literature in France and disagreed with the contemporary policies of the Académie Française.

Wishing to honour his deceased brother Jules (1830–1870), Goncourt bequeathed his estate to establish an organisation to promote literature in France.

[1] Since then, each December, a ten-member board of the Académie has awarded the Prix Goncourt for the best work of fiction of the year.

Membership is reserved to writers who have produced works in the French language, but it is not limited to citizens of France.

Since 1914, they have convened in an oval room, the salon Goncourt, on the second floor of the restaurant Drouant,[2] place Gaillon, in the heart of Paris.