Haitian-Quebecois writer Thélyson Orélien in the running for the 2026 Prix Goncourt
The author's debut novel 'C'était ça ou mourir' made the Académie Goncourt's first selection of sixteen titles.
The Académie Goncourt unveiled the first selection for its 2026 prize on Wednesday, September 2, according to Le Nouvelliste. Among the sixteen names retained is that of Haitian-Quebecois writer Thélyson Orélien, cited for his debut novel 'C'était ça ou mourir,' published on August 19 by Grasset. Le Nouvelliste reports that Orélien was born in Gonaïves in 1988 and left Haiti after the 2010 earthquake to settle in Quebec, where he has lived since. A poet and essayist before turning to the novel, he had first published 'C'était ça ou mourir' in the spring with the Quebec publishing house Boréal, where the book had made its mark. The paper also noted that Orélien is in the running for both the Prix Goncourt and the Goncourt des Lycéens 2026, and, in a separate reference, for the Renaudot. The first Goncourt selection is an early stage; further rounds narrow the field before a winner is named. Le Nouvelliste is the source for these details.