Hunter novel wins French 'Goncourt for pets'

"The Hunting Party" by 42-year-old Agnes Desarthe tells of a young man who is injured during a hunt, and while he awaits rescue falls into "conversation" with a wild rabbit about the meaning of life -- both animal or human.

"The idea of the novel came from meeting hunters who showed me a love of nature and animals, which I hadn't been expecting at all," the author told AFP.

"How can people kill what they love? That is something I cannot understand. Maybe that is what crimes of passion are about. So perhaps we should see hunting as a kind of crime of passion?"

"That was the starting point for my book."

Awarded by the French animal protection group 30 Millions d'Amis, the offbeat animal-themed prize traditionally wraps up France's book award season, and is bestowed in the Paris restaurant which hosts the real Goncourt, France's top literary award, each year.

The award carries 1,000 euros ($1,200) in prize money, which the winner donates to the animal charity of his choice.

Houellebecq, who won the Goncourt in 2010 for his work "The Map and the Territory", was asked to sit on the jury because of his well-documented passion for animals -- which he has called a "crazy love."

For years the controversial writer was spotted with his pet terrier at his side, up until its death last year.