Submissions are now open to the Entente Littéraire Prize (Prix de l’Entente Littéraire) worth 16,000€ in total, a new UK-France literary prize for writers of young adult literature. If you are a writer or translator whose YA books have been translated from English to French or vice versa, reach out to your publisher ASAP to get your book submitted.
Announced in September 2023 by Her Majesty The Queen and Madame Brigitte Macron during the King and Queen’s State Visit to France, the Entente Littéraire Prize is inspired by the Entente Cordiale, the 1904 agreement between the UK and French governments that improved bilateral relations. The prize was agreed by Prime Minister Sunak and President Macron at the UK-France bilateral Summit in Paris on March 10, 2023.
Two prizes of 8000€ will be awarded: one each for YA writing submitted in French and English translation for the eligible period. Each 8000€ prize will be split equally between the creators of the book (the writer and translator and – where applicable – illustrator).
The Entente Littéraire 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 looks to encourage and celebrate the joy of reading and shared literary experiences between France and the UK.
The submissions window was formally opened at the French Embassy in London and the British Embassy in Paris today as a celebration to mark the start of the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale. where Macaron gave her opening remarks:
In September 2023, together with Her Majesty Queen Camilla, I had the honour to announce the creation of the new Entente Littéraire Prize, which reflects the strong and unique bonds that exist between France and the United Kingdom. I am delighted that the Prize is becoming a reality with its opening for authors’ submissions. I hope this new prize will arouse the curiosity of young French and British readers for authors unknown to them previously and will make them want to discover literature beyond borders.
The name of the prize is a welcome reminder of the 1904 Entente Cordiale, which marked the end of a period of antagonism between our two nations, and heralded a closer, more understanding relationship. I hope that this prize will do the same from a literary perspective: for it is in our stories that we learn to understand one another, and in our shared dreams that we start to glimpse the chance of a better future.
The prize will be judged by a British-French jury led by celebrated bilingual author Joanne Harris, who will act as President of Judges. The other judges include acclaimed YA writers Marie-Aude Murail and Timothée de Fombelle from France and Patrice Lawrence and Joseph Coelho from the UK.
Harris remarked:
As a dual national of France and of the UK, I’m thrilled and honoured to play a role in the launch of this exciting new prize, which represents so much that is dear to me; the country that taught me to love reading, and the country that taught me how to be a writer. Both our countries have a rich and varied literary heritage as well as a close shared history, and it’s wonderful to see them in partnership for this welcome celebration of young adult fiction. It’s also wonderful to be part of a prize that celebrates translators as well as creators, and I’m looking forward, both to reading the entries, and to working with my colleagues from both sides of the Channel.
de Fombelle highlighted that YA literature is “preparing the world of tomorrow.” while Lawrence remarked that he is thrilled to be part of a new prize valuing YA writing as well as the work of translators.
Eligibility Guidelines
- The Prize is open to any work of writing for Young Adults, which must be a full-length work of literature (including graphic fiction).
- The work must have originally been written and published in the French language in France and published in translation in English in the UK, or vice versa.
- All entries must be published (in any format) for the first time in translation within the five calendar years between 1 February 2019 and 31 January 2024.
- Books must be entered by trade publishers based in the UK or France. Publishers may submit multiple titles.
To view all submission guidelines, go here for UK publishers wishing to submit an English translation of a French title and here for French publishers wishing to submit a French translation of an English title.
UK publishers, submit here.
French publishers, submit here.
Deadline: April 8, 2024
The judges will be responsible for compiling a shortlist of outstanding books featuring up to three works translated from French into English, and up to three works translated from English into French. The shortlist will be announced in winter 2024 and the winners will be announced shortly thereafter at a special event in Paris.
Good luck to all authors! Reach out to your publishers if you are eligible for the prize.
