Grand prix des lectrices de Elle

History

Unlike other literary prizes that have professionals for their juries and selection committees, the Grand prix des lectrices de Elle is a public award, convened and selected by readers of the magazine, and aimed at giving a voice to women who love to read. At its inception in 1969 by Hélène Lazareff, it was awarded solely to novels. From 1977, two categories were recognised - literary fiction and non-fiction. From 2002, crime fiction also came to be awarded.

Until 1992, eight regional committees designated at the first instance books of the month. A national jury then took over to elect the two major prizewinners in the categories of novels and non-fiction. Currently, eight monthly juries of fifteen readers each form the grand jury of 120 readers.

The editor of the Elle magazine makes an initial selection of books, emphasising first works or young authors or new publishers, and systematically eliminating the works that have already won major literary awards such as the Prix Goncourt, Prix Femina or the Prix Médicis. After this, every month from September to April, the eight juries of fifteen readers of Elle magazine deliberate to select their finalists, which in turn will be read by all the juries to select the grand winner in May.

Novels (from 1970)

Non-fiction (from 1977)

Crime fiction (from 2002)

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