French book prize under fire after judge’s partner makes shortlist

Goncourt secretary defends decision but criticises same judge for writing scathing review of rival work

The jury for France’s top literary prize, the Goncourt, has been engulfed in a row over ethical breaches after the shortlist included a book by the boyfriend of one of the judges.

The same judge wrote a scathing review of one of the other contenders for the prize after it had been nominated.