Cognac: Ruth Gilligan wins the European Literature Readers’ Prize for her novel “Broken Fields”

The author, a native of Dublin, won the hearts of this prize, which was attended by more than 2,000 readers and 150 libraries, with her novel “Les ChampsBréss” (“The Butchers” from its original title, “The Butchers”). ), published by Seuil, “a poignant novel which introduces us to a little-known Ireland”, describes The Guardian.

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This book tells the story of Una, 12 years old, daughter of one of the eight butchers who travel across Ireland to slaughter cattle, in accordance with an ancestral tradition, according to which famine would fall on the country if the ritual is not was not respected every year. Lonely and shy, the young girl is ready to do anything to become one of them.

Released in 2020, “The Broken Fields” is the fifth book by Ruth Gilligan, but the first translated into French (by Élisabeth Richard Berthail). Aged 36, the novelist is also a journalist and Irish university professor (she is a lecturer in creative writing at the University of Birmingham).

Very applauded when her prize was announced, she said she was “very surprised”. “I really like the other three authors and their books, I can't believe it. I am very honored,” she said in French.

Facing her, the level was very high this year, with Jan Carson (“Les Rapissement”, translated by Dominique Goy-Blanquet, Sabine Wespieser); Louise Kennedy (“Troubles”, translated by Cécile Leclère, Denoël) and Billy O'Callaghan (“Sometimes silence is a prayer”, translated by Carine Chichereau, Bourgois).

Since 2004, the LEC Readers' Prize has rewarded a European author for a work, written or translated into French, corresponding to the country highlighted during the festival.