Vote Now for the 2018 Albertine Prize!

Consider this your friendly, neighborhood reminder to head on over to the Albertine Prize page to vote for your favorite French book in translation from their shortlist!

Last year’s inaugural Albertine Prize was won by Antoine Volodine and J. T. Mahany for Volodine’s Bardo or Not Bardo, published by Open Letter Books.

From the Albertine Prize press release:

Showcasing the diversity and inventiveness of contemporary French-language writing, the five nominated books map a literary journey that encompasses a Congolese orphanage in the 1970s (Black Moses, Alain Mabanckou); a young man’s sexual awakening in a French factory town (The End of Eddy, Édouard Louis); artistic rapture in the Middle East (Compass, Mathias Énard); and interior explorations of love (Not One Day, Anne Garréta) and violation (Incest, Christine Angot).

[. . .]

Dedicated to introducing the very best of contemporary French-language literature to American audiences, the annual prize was launched in 2017. “We launched the Albertine Prize with the belief that American readers, who have always had a deep appreciation for French literature, would eagerly embrace contemporary voices–our expectations were richly rewarded,” said Bénédicte de Montlaur, Cultural Counselor of the French Embassy in the United States. “We hope to build on the success of our first year by creating a truly democratic prize that is a source of pride for both the readers and the winning author and translator.”

Readers can vote for their favorite title until May 1st. Prior to that, Albertine Books will host a book battle on April 10th, where five authors and journalists will defend one title each. The prize ceremony, which will be held June 6th, will also see the winning author and translator awarded $8,000 and $2,000, respectively.

For more information on the prize, the bookstore, and the shortlisted titles—and to vote!—go here.