Paris (AFP)
Bernard Pivot, who has brought literature into the living room of viewers with "Apostrophes", leaves the Academy Goncourt, which he had been a member for fifteen years and president for five years, announced Tuesday the assembly of the famous literary prize.
"To regain a free and full use of his time, at age 84 Bernard Pivot has decided to withdraw from the Academy Goncourt from December 31. He was a member for 15 years, the president for 5 years", announced the Academy in a statement.
"He becomes a member of honor," a few weeks after rewarding the novelist Jean-Paul Dubois for "All men do not live the world the same way" (The Olivier).
On Twitter, the Académie Goncourt posted a photo of the academicians celebrating the departure of their president, who had told them this summer of his wish to withdraw.
The festivities took place at Drouant, the restaurant in the center of Paris, where the winner of the most prestigious literary prize in the French-speaking world is announced each year. "Letter from Ed (mond) de Goncourt, great wines, painting: literature and oenology to say thank you!", Tweeted the academicians.
Pictured included Françoise Chandernagor, Tahar Ben Jelloun, Virginie Despentes, Pierre Assouline and Patrick Rambaud.
Journalist and host of "Apostrophes", the most famous literary program of French television, Bernard Pivot entered the Académie Goncourt in October 2004, succeeding André Stil. He was the first non-writer to join the prestigious institution, where he became president in January 2014, following Edmonde Charles-Roux.
Her years as president of the jury Goncourt were marked by the consecration of young writers like Leila Slimani, with "Sweet Song" (Gallimard), adapted since on the big screen, and Nicolas Mathieu, rewarded in 2018 for "Their children after them" ( Actes Sud), novel about the social fracture.
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