Literature prizes for integration

A writer of Afghan origin has won France's prestigious Prix Goncourt, while a Guinean author has been awarded the Prix Renaudot. This is a sign that France is finally accepting its multiculturalism, writes Le Monde newspaper: "If anyone still doubts this country's ability to accept diverstiy, if anyone still questions the spread of Francophonie, then the choice of the Afghan Atiq Rahimi by the Goncourt jury and that of the Guinean Tierno Monénembo by the Renaudot jury give an eloquent response. Certainly, two literary prizes will not put an end to our contemptible sensibilities as far as our identity goes. But for these authors, both of whom were born outside France, French is the language of freedom. They do well to remind the French that they should overcome their siege mentality."

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