This is a first: France and England are coming together this Wednesday, December 4 to reward two works of literature for adolescents and young adults. The objective of this Literary Entente prize? “Encourage and celebrate the pleasures of reading and the sharing of literary experiences” between the two countries.
The first edition of this event will take place at the French Residence, in London, in the presence of Queen Camilla and Brigitte Macron. Imagined in March 2023 during the Franco-British summit, the Literary Entente prize was officially launched by the two women the following September, on the occasion of the state visit of King Charles III to France.
Chaired by the Franco-British author Joanne Harris, the jury for this first edition is made up of the French Marie-Aude Murail and Timothée de Fombelle, as well as the British Patrice Lawrence and Joseph Coelho.
A price inspired by the Entente Cordiale
The Literary Entente Prize is inspired by the Entente Cordiale, a diplomatic agreement signed in 1904 between France and the United Kingdom with the aim of strengthening their bilateral relations.
Six titles are in the running: Thievesde Lucie Bryon, traduit par Lucie Bryon (Flying Eye Books), Men Don’t Cryby Faïza Guène, translated by Sarah Ardizzone (Cassava Republic Press), Jeffersonby Jean-Claude Mourlevat, translated by Ros Schwartz (Andersen Press), By the fireby Will Hill, translated by Anne Guitton (Casterman), The Invisible Sparksby Elle McNicoll, translated by Dominique Kugler (École des Loisirs), as well as The Blue Book of Neboby Manon Steffan Ros, translated by Lise Garond (Actes Sud Jeunesse).
Two prizes of €8,000 will be awarded, distinguishing the best translated publication of a work of children's literature in each of the two countries. This sum will be distributed equally between the creators of the work (its author and its translator, and where applicable, its illustrator).
This award is supported in France by the French Institute of the United Kingdom, the French Embassy in the United Kingdom and the Ministry of Culture. In the United Kingdom, it is supported by the Royal Society of Literature, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport of the British government and the British Embassy in France.
