Queen Camilla and Brigitte Macron present a prize to promote reading between the two banks of the Channel

Correspondent in London

From one side of the Channel to the other, preparing the future of literature. This is the whole ambition of the new Literary Entente prize, awarded yesterday in London in the presence of Queen Camilla and Brigitte Macron. The distinction rewards works aimed at adolescents and young adults, while nourishing cultural ties between the two countries.

For this first edition, which took place at the Résidence de France, the Queen and the French first lady presented the Literary Entente prize to Lucie Bryon, for her book Thieves and to Manon Steffan Ros for her novel The Blue Book of Nebo as well as Lise Garoud for the French translation of this work. The president of the jury, the British novelist Joanne Harris, welcomed “ a doubly valuable prize because it celebrates literature for adolescents and young adults and it is almost unique in rewarding both the translator, who plays a major role, and the author. It also celebrates the relationship between our two countries, rich in literary heritage and a common history. »

The creation of this Literary Entente prize was announced in September 2023 by the Queen and Brigitte Macron, during the state visit of King Charles III to France. Passionate about literature, very committed to reading and literacy, Queen Camilla then praised “the ability of Books to bring joy and comfort, companionship, laughter and hope; to open our eyes to other experiences and to remind ourselves that we are not alone “. She quoted Victor Hugo: “Learning to read is like lighting a fire; every syllable spelled sparkles.”

Victor Hugo et Jane Austen

Out of politeness, Brigitte Macron had cited Jane Austen : “There is no pleasure worth reading! How we tire more quickly of anything than of a book! » The former literature professor had also highlighted the virtues of books “ who accompany us in our personal construction, give us the keys to understanding others and open the doors to the imagination.”

This price is part of a dynamic of rapprochement between the two countries, after a certain coldness during the saga of the Brexit negotiations. It was during a summit to relaunch the bilateral relationship, in March 2023, that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Emmanuel Macron decided to create a literary prize. This was then announced during Charles III's trip the following September. This cultural event comes in the wake of the celebrations of the 120^e anniversary of the Entente Cordiale which took place on both sides of the Channel this year.

Organized by the French Institute of the United Kingdom and the Royal Society of Literature, this prize aims to promote the sharing of literary experiences between France and the United Kingdom. Under the leadership of Joanne Harris, the jury was made up of renowned authors of “children's” literature: the French Marie-Aude Murail and Timothée de Fombelle and the British Patrice Lawrence and Joseph Coelho. “The issue is essential for literaturesaid Joanne Harris again, it’s about making young people want to be lifelong readers.”