Powerful Women

Congratulations to path-breaking French Senegalese writer Marie NDiaye!  She has just won the Prix Goncourt, the most prestigious literary award in France, for her novel Trois femmes puissantes ("Three Powerful Women," Gallimard, 2009), becoming the first black woman ever to do so in the 106-year history of the prize.  (Wondering why it took so long?  Go here to speculate.)

Though the monetary award is only a token 10 euros, the prize brings tremendous international attention and prestige to the book and the author. 

While I don't think you can yet get Trois femmes puissantes in English, the attention from the Goncourt should soon correct that.  In the meantime, you can get NDiaye's novel Rosie Carpe from the University of Nebraska Press--the amazing little press that calls 'em first (as with Müller & Le Clezio on the Nobel).

Thanks to Cheryl Strayed for the heads-up!