First black woman to win French literary prize

03 November 2009

Marie NDiaye, aged 42, has become the first black woman to win the Goncourt, France's principle literary prize. The author, whose father is Senegalese and mother is French, was honoured at the award ceremony for her novel 'Trois Femmes Puissantes', which translates to 'Three Powerful Women'. The tale is set in both Africa and Europe and explores the stories of women whose lives span both continents and are overwhelmed by family secrets and betrayals.

NDiayne, who is a also the first woman to receive the Goncourt in ten years, wrote her first book aged 17 and has also delved into screenwriting and playwriting. The Goncourt prize, which honours the best new novel in French literature, also comes with a staggering 10 Euro prize fund (£9) – that's about enough for a bottle of wine to toast her success!