Faïza Guène shortlisted for Entente Littéraire Prize
Faïza Guène’s Men Don’t Cry, translated by Sarah Ardizzone (Cassava Republic Press), has been shortlisted for the inaugural Entente Littéraire Prize (Prix de l’Entente Littéraire), a new UK-France literary prize for writers of young adult literature.
Melina Spanoudi writes in the Bookseller:
“The idea to establish a UK-France literary prize was agreed by Prime Minister Sunak and President Macron at the UK-France bilateral summit in Paris on 10th March 2023. It was launched in September of that year by Her Majesty The Queen and Madame Brigitte Macron, during the King and Queen’s state visit to France, and is inspired by the Entente Cordiale – the 1904 agreement between the UK and French governments that improved bilateral relations.
Two prizes of £6,720 (€8,000) will be awarded for YA writing submitted in French and for an English translation. Each prize will be split equally between the creators of the book, including the writer, the translator and, where applicable, the illustrator.
The prize is organised by the Royal Society of Literature and the Institut français du Royaume-Uni in London, in collaboration with the French Ministry of Culture, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the British Embassy in Paris and the French Embassy in London.
The prize winner will be announced at an event in London in early December, as part of the RSL’s 204th birthday celebrations.”
According to president of judges Joanne Haris,
“It was a very strong shortlist, with a pleasing variety of different media and approaches. The list combined some very challenging themes with some insightful comments on the joys and problems of adolescence.”
Sarah Ardizzone, the translator of the novel, says of the shortlisting:
“I couldn’t be more delighted […] Faïza Guène’s writing speaks directly to young people in France, the UK and beyond, thanks to her inimitable wit, sparkling dialogue and precious talent for uniting diverse readerships. In divisive times, this matters more than ever.
Faïza Guène’s own literary career began when, aged fourteen, she left her notebook behind at a young filmmakers’ workshop, prompting the facilitator to ask if he could show her writing to a publisher. How fitting that she should be shortlisted for a prize celebrating young adult readers and their authors.
It has been the privilege of my translating life to witness Faïza evolving as a storyteller. If energising collaboration has always been in the DNA of our creative process, never have we shared more humour, joy or tears than in Men Don’t Cry.”
© Dar Yumi
Faïza herself says, translated by Sarah:
“I am honoured and deeply moved to be shortlisted for the Entente Littéraire Prize for my novel Un Homme, Ça Ne Pleure Pas (Men Don't Cry). I am doubly honoured because I share this news with my translator Sarah Ardizzonne, who has been by my side every step of the way on a literary journey of some twenty years, to the point of being inseparable from it.
Becoming an International Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature has reinforced my conviction that my writing is universal, and lifts me from the margins to which I am constantly assigned. That recognition, and this shortlisting, go straight to my heart.'”