Kamel Daoud Wins 2024 Goncourt Prize for 'Houris'

The French-Algerian author's novel explores the dark period of Algeria's civil war, earning him France's top literary honor.

Kamel Daoud's 'Houris' addresses the 'black decade' of Algeria's civil war, focusing on the experiences of women during this time.
The Goncourt jury awarded Daoud the prize with a decisive first-round vote, highlighting the novel's lyrical and tragic narrative.
Daoud's book, published by Gallimard, cannot be released in Algeria due to laws against works discussing the 1992-2002 civil war.
Gaël Faye, a main contender for the Goncourt, received the Renaudot Prize for 'Jacaranda,' a novel about post-genocide Rwanda.
The Goncourt Prize is known for significantly boosting book sales, often reaching hundreds of thousands of copies for the winner.