Laurent Mauvignier triumphs with two literary prizes in 2025

Laurent Mauvignier ‘s novel La Maison vide (The Empty House), published by Éditions de Minuit, has made a name for itself this autumn. Winner of the Prix des Libraires de Nancy – Le Point and the Prix littéraire Le Monde 2025, the author has become a key figure in September. All eyes are now on the Goncourt and Femina awards, where his book is in the running.

A literary double that confirms an exceptional year

In September 2025, novelist Laurent Mauvignier won two major awards: the Prix littéraire Le Monde and the Prix des Libraires de Nancy – Le Point. His new novel, La Maison vide (The Empty House), confirms the extent of his place in the new literary season. These awards reflect the shared taste of critics and booksellers for a dense 752-page work.

The official award ceremony in Nancy is scheduled for September 12, during the Salon Le Livre sur la Place, the first major literary event of the autumn. A public meeting with the author will be held on September 14, extending the celebration of this success. In Paris, many booksellers in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district (61) are already featuring the novel on their tables.

With this victory, Mauvignier joins the select circle of authors capable of winning several awards in the same month. He had already been a finalist for numerous prizes in the past, but this double accolade marks a new stage in his career. Readers, spurred on by current events, flocked to the shelves devoted to the new literary season, confirming the positive momentum for this work.

A family fresco at the heart of the 20th century

The story of La Maison Vide follows the history of a family marked by silences and secrets. The figure of the grandmother serves as a unifying thread for revisiting several generations. The author deals with the traces left by the wars and the relationships of domination of the time.

This 752-page novel encapsulates the great strengths of Mauvignier’s writing: attention to detail, strong dialogue and evocative power. This is his tenth book published by Éditions de Minuit, a publishing house that has been with him since the beginning. The text plunges into the paradoxes of family unspoken words and recalls the intimate fractures of history.

“A powerful novel, with multi-faceted characters and a rhythmic style of writing” – Association Lire à Nancy

Literary awards, levers of visibility

The Prix des Libraires de Nancy – Le Point is known for its support of booksellers at the start of the new literary season. Awarded for the 17th time, this distinction highlights the role of booksellers as essential mediators between the public and works of art. Mauvignier thus becomes the face of an autumn supported by professional recognition.

The Le Monde Literary Prize, awarded on September 3, lends further legitimacy, as it is a much-awaited national award. The combination of these two distinctions generates considerable media coverage. Several Parisian critics compare this recognition to a launching pad for the Prix Goncourt.

This cultural effervescence is part of a high point for the literary sector. The Livre sur la Place fair attracts thousands of visitors every year, confirming the importance of regional events in the national promotion of literature. To extend this cultural dynamic, take a look at the What to do in Paris section.

Finally, many authors hope that La Maison Vide will serve as an example to the next generation. Its success shows that demanding literature can reach a wide audience, as long as it benefits from a powerful relay. As the next awards draw nearer, speculation is growing in Parisian literary circles.

“A masterful fresco in which the house becomes a witness to an erased past” – Actualitté

A unanimous critical reception

Since its publication in August 2025, the novel has received rave reviews. Newspapers, specialized websites and the general media all emphasize the richness of the plot and the strength of the themes addressed. Many praise Laurent Mauvignier ‘s ability to combine intimate and collective memory.

The Prix du Monde jury, for example, praised this “story of a family, its silences and its shame, spanning four generations”. A judgment echoed in numerous reviews. This reception makes the novel one of the season’s favorites, for booksellers and literary journalists alike.

Since Paris, several independent bookshops have been promoting the novel as the title that symbolizes this autumn. A movement comparable to the mobilization around major cultural events such as the Parcours des Mondes, another major September event, but in the field of primitive arts.

Outlook for the rest of the literary season

In autumn, the author is expected to be shortlisted for the Prix Goncourt and Prix Femina 2025. His recent double consecration confirms his status as a favorite. Observers are betting on a strong presence in the discussions surrounding these prestigious awards.

The themes of La Maison vide also resonate with contemporary issues: the place of women, the memory of war, family legacies. This literary topicality intersects with a growing interest in introspective and historical narratives at the same time. This makes it a flagship title in today’s editorial recommendations.

Mauvignier’s recognition illustrates a high point of the 2025 autumn season: the return of ambitious literary frescoes. Parisian booksellers point out that sustained interest in this type of narrative is on the rise, reinforcing Paris’s place as an intellectual capital. Many readers are looking for a rare narrative depth in these books.

Last but not least, this rise to prominence could also benefit the publishing house. Éditions de Minuit ‘s visibility is greatly enhanced. In this busy back-to-school period, we can also turn to the Luxury News or Experience sections, which present other forms of noteworthy events for a demanding public.

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