Edmond de Goncourt

For the article about their collaboration, see Goncourt brothers.

File:Edmond de Goncourt by Nadar c1877.jpg

Edmond before 1877 by Nadar.

Edmond de Goncourt (May 26, 1822 – July 16, 1896), born Edmond Louis Antoine Huot de Goncourt, was a French writer, literary critic, art critic, book publisher and the founder of the Académie Goncourt.

Biography

Goncourt was born in Nancy. For much of his life, he collaborated with his brother Jules creating works of art criticism, and subsequently several novels; after the death of Jules he continued to write novels alone.

He bequeathed his entire estate for the foundation and maintenance of the Académie Goncourt. In honour of his brother and collaborator, Jules de Goncourt, (December 17, 1830 – June 20, 1870), each December since 1903, the Académie awards the Prix Goncourt. It is the most prestigious prize in French language literature, given to "the best imaginary prose work of the year".

Marcel Proust, Simone de Beauvoir, Michel Tournier, Marguerite Duras and Romain Gary (who exceptionally won it twice) are among the best-known authors who have won the century-old prize.

Edmond de Goncourt died in Champrosay in 1896, and was interred in the Cimetière de Montmartre in Paris.

Quotes

• "A painting in a museum hears more ridiculous opinions than anything else in the world."
• "If there is a God, atheism must seem to Him as less of an insult than religion."

See also

• Goncourt brothers

External links

• Works by Edmond de Goncourt at Project Gutenberg
• Blog dedicated to Edmond and Jules de Goncourt