The Albertine Prize is a French literary award granted to French writing in translation that has been publicly recognised in the United States of America. It is awarded by the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in the United States of America, with financial support from Van Cleef & Arpels.
History The Albertine Prize was constituted as a readers' choice award, to recognize popular works written in French and translated to English, with an American audience. The purpose of the prize was to establish recognition for contemporary French literature, in translation in the United States. The Prize is awarded from the Albertine Bookstore, which was established by Antonin Baudry, then Cultural Counselor for the French Embassy, in New York.
A selection committee nominates a shortlist of novels each year, and readers vote for the winner on the website of the Albertine Bookstore. The winner is awarded a prize of $10,000 prize, which is divided 80-20 between the author and translator.
In addition to the Albertine Prize, the Albertine Prize Jeunesse is awarded to books for young readers, and the winner is chosen by children between the ages of 3 and 14, grouped into four categories by age.
List of nominees and winners
2021 2021 nominees:
+Author Title Translator Publication InformationWinnerNicolas MathieuAnd Their Children After ThemWilliam Rodarmor Other PressShortlistedLouis-Philippe DalembertThe Mediterranean WallMarjolijn de JagerSchaffner PressShortlistedPauline Delabroy-AllardThey Say SarahAdriana HunterOther PressShortlistedEmmanuelle Bayamack-TamArcadiaRuth DiverSeven Stories PressShortlistedEmmanuel DongalaThe Bridgetower Sonata: Sonata MulatticaMarjolijn de JagerSchaffner Press
2020 The Selection Committee for the 2020 Prize included staff of the Albertine Bookstore, the Book Department in the French Embassy, French literary critic François Busnel and American writer Rachel Kushner. The shortlist was announced on 14 October 2020 and voting remained open until 24 November 2020. +Author Title Translator Publication InformationJean-Baptiste Del AmoAnimaliaFrank WynneGrove, 2019Yannick HaenelHold Fast Your CrownTeresa FaganOther Press, 2019Lyonel TrouillotKannjawouGretchen SchmidSchaffner Press, 2019Virginie DespentesVernon Subutex 1Frank WynneFarrar, Straus and Giroux, 2019WinnerZahia Rahmani“Muslim” : A NovelMatt ReeckDeep Vellum, 2019
2019 The panel that shortlisted books for the 2019 prize included staff of the Albertine Bookstore, the Book Department in the French Embassy, French literary critic François Bushnel and American writer Lydia Davis. Author Title Translator Publication InformationWinnerNegar DjavadiDisorientalTina KoverEuropa Editions, 2018ShortlistedGaël FayeSmall Country Sarah ArdizzoneHogarth Press, 2016ShortlistedÉric VuillardThe Order of the DayMark PolizzottiOther Press, 2018ShortlistedLeïla SlimaniThe Perfect Nanny Sam TaylorPenguin Books 2018ShortlistedNathacha AppanahWaiting for TomorrowGeoffrey StrachanGraywolf Press, 2018
2018 The panel that shortlisted books for the 2018 prize included staff of the Albertine Bookstore, the Book Department in the French Embassy, French literary critic François Bushnel and American writer Lydia Davis. Author Title Translator Publication InformationWinnerAnne GarretaNot One DayEmma RamadanDeep Vellum Press, 2017 ShortlistedAlain MabanckouBlack MosesHelen StevensonThe New Press, 2017ShortlistedMathias ÉnardCompassCharlotte MandellNew Directions Publishing, 2017ShortlistedÉdouard LouisThe End of EddyMichael LuceyFarrar, Straus and Giroux, 2017ShortlistedChristine AngotIncest Tess LewisArchipelago Books, 2017
2017 The panel that shortlisted books for the 2018 prize included staff of the Albertine Bookstore, the Book Department in the French Embassy, French literary critic François Bushnel and American writer Lydia Davis. Author Title Translator Publication InformationWinnerAntoine VolodineBardo Or Not BardoJ.T. MahanyOpen Letter Books, 2017 Shortlisted Ananda DeviEve Out of Her RuinsJeffrey ZuckermanDeep Vellum, 2016 ShortlistedMaylis De KerangalThe HeartSam TaylorFarrar, Straus and Giroux, 2016
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