‘Alabama Song’ wins Goncourt

France’s top literary prize, the Goncourt, went to author Gilles Leroy on Monday for his “Alabama Song,” a story written in the first person but inspired by the descent into folly of the wife of famed novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Last year, the Goncourt Prize went to American author Jonathan Littell for his 900-page World War II opus “Les Bienveillantes,” or “The Kindly Ones.”

Leroy’s 12th novel, “Alabama Song” mixes biographical material with the imaginary to portray Zelda, half of the jet set Fitzgerald couple that lit up the 1920s flapper era, notably in France.

It wasn’t an easy sell. The 48-year-old Leroy won the vote on the 14th round of balloting by the literary jury.