1.
GV & SV RESTAURANT DROUANT (2 SHOTS)
0.07

2.
GV INT..GUESTS
0.12

3.
LV CONCHON ENTERS, SURROUNDED BY PRESS
0.16

4.
SCU CONCHON
0.21

5.
GV & SV CAMERAMEN (2 SHOTS)
0.28

6.
SCU CONCHON
0.32

7.
GV GONCOURT ACADEMY MEMBERS
0.37

8.
SV PAN DITTO
0.45

9.
SV CAMERAMEN
0.48

10.
GV ACADEMY MEMBER HOLDS UP WINNING NOVEL
0.53



Initials JT/V/MGT/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: FRANCE'S TOP LITERARY PRIZE, THE PRIX GONCOURT, HAS GONE THIS YEAR TO FRENCH WRITER GEORGES CONCHON. THE AWARD WAS ANNOUNCED IN PARIS TODAY (MONDAY).

THE PRIZE -- FIRST AWARDED IN 1903 -- IS WORTH ONLY A NOMINAL SUM, BUT THE PRESTIGE IT CARRIES ENSURES A WIDE READERSHIP FOR THE WINNING NOVEL.

CONCHON'S PRIZE-WINNING BOOK IS CALLED "L'ETAT SAUVAGE" ("THE SAVAGE STATE"). IT IS HIS SEVENTH NOVEL, AND WAS WELL RECEIVED BY THE CRITICS WHEN IT WAS PUBLISHED EARLIER THIS YEAR.

CONCHON IS 39, AND WORKS AS AN OFFICIAL IN THE FRENCH SENATE. PREVIOUSLY HE WORKED AS A CIVIL SERVANT IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC AND ON THE PARIS EVENING NEWSPAPER FRANCE-SOIR. AFRICA FORMS THE BACKGROUND TO THE NOVEL.

IT TELLS THE STORY OF A YOUNG LIBERAL UNESCO OFFICIAL, WHO, AFTER DESERTED BY HIS WIFE, GOES TO WORK IN A NEWLY-INDEPENDENT AFRICAN STATE.

THERE HE MEETS HIS WIFE, WHO IS LIVING WITH AN AFRICAN MINISTER. THE BOOK GOES ON TO RECOUNT HIS EMOTIONAL AND IDEALIST CONFLICT. THE WHITE COMMUNITY EXPECTS SOME GESTURE FROM HIM. THEN, THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES ITS INTENTION TO EXPEL HIM.