The Prix Brentano was a literary award given annually by the American bookstore chain

Brentano's Brentano's was an American bookstore chain with numerous locations in the United States. As of the 1970s, there were three Brentano's in New York: the Fifth Avenue flagship store at Rockefeller Center, one in Greenwich Village, and one in Whit ...

to a French novel that "illustrate eminently the French cultural ideal". The first award (with a check for $1000) was given in 1929. The prize was installed to present a French novel in English translation to an American reading public. The first "Committee of Honor" comprised poet and diplomat

Paul Claudel Paul Claudel (; 6 August 1868 – 23 February 1955) was a French poet, dramatist and diplomat, and the younger brother of the sculptor Camille Claudel. He was most famous for his verse dramas, which often convey his devout Catholicism. Early lif ...

, diplomat and politician

Myron T. Herrick Myron Timothy Herrick (October 9, 1854March 31, 1929) was an American banker, diplomat and Republican politician from Ohio. He served as the 42nd governor of Ohio and United States Ambassador to France on two occasions. Biography Herrick was bor ...

, and Irish novelist George Moore. The French audience was presented a high-paying award supposedly free of the machinations of French juried prizes. Jacques Le Clerq, translator of the first two winning novels, said that since the jury was composed of foreigners there could be "no manoeuvres of cliques such as must necessarily attend French prize awards". At the time, it was the highest-paying literary award beside the

Nobel Prize in Literature ) , image = Nobel Prize.png , caption = , awarded_for = Outstanding contributions in literature , presenter = Swedish Academy , holder = Annie Ernaux (2022) , location = Stockholm, Sweden , year = 1901 , ...

. The prizewinning novel was subsequently translated into English and published by Brentano's. The first jury included translator Lewis Galantière, novelist and critic

Malcolm Cowley Malcolm Cowley (August 24, 1898 – March 27, 1989) was an American writer, editor, historian, poet, and literary critic. His best known works include his first book of poetry, ''Blue Juniata'' (1929), his lyrical memoir, ''Exile's Return ...

, and Jacques Le Clerq, and unanimously awarded the prize to

Jean Giono Jean Giono (30 March 1895 – 8 October 1970) was a French writer who wrote works of fiction mostly set in the Provence region of France. First period Jean Giono was born to a family of modest means, his father a cobbler of Piedmontese descent a ...

debut novel A debut novel is the first novel a novelist publishes. Debut novels are often the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to p ...

''Colline'', translated in English as '' Hill of Destiny''. The second was awarded to

Jeanne Galzy Jeanne Galzy (1883–1977), born Louise Jeanne Baraduc, was a French novelist and biographer from Montpellier. She was a long-time member of the jury for the Prix Femina. Largely forgotten today, she was known as a regional author, but also wro ...

for ''

Burnt Offering A holocaust is a religious animal sacrifice that is completely consumed by fire. The word derives from the Ancient Greek ''holokaustos'' which is used solely for one of the major forms of sacrifice, also known as a burnt offering. Etymology and ...

''. It does not appear as if any more were awarded after 1930.

Winners

, '' Hill of Destiny'', 1929 *

, ''

'', 1930

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prix Brentano American literary awards 20th-century French novels