Albertine Prize


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:
AuthorTitleTranslatorPublication Information
WinnerNicolas MathieuAnd Their Children After ThemWilliam RodarmorOther Press
ShortlistedLouis-Philippe DalembertThe Mediterranean WallMarjolijn de JagerSchaffner Press
ShortlistedPauline Delabroy-AllardThey Say SarahAdriana HunterOther Press
ShortlistedEmmanuelle Bayamack-TamArcadiaRuth DiverSeven Stories Press
ShortlistedEmmanuel 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.
AuthorTitleTranslatorPublication Information
Jean-Baptiste Del AmoAnimaliaFrank WynneGrove, 2019
Yannick HaenelHold Fast Your CrownTeresa FaganOther Press, 2019
Lyonel TrouillotKannjawouGretchen SchmidSchaffner Press, 2019
Virginie DespentesVernon Subutex 1Frank WynneFarrar, Straus and Giroux, 2019
WinnerZahia 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.
AuthorTitleTranslatorPublication Information
WinnerNegar DjavadiDisorientalTina KoverEuropa Editions, 2018
ShortlistedGaël FayeSmall CountrySarah ArdizzoneHogarth Press, 2016
ShortlistedÉric VuillardThe Order of the DayMark PolizzottiOther Press, 2018
ShortlistedLeïla SlimaniThe Perfect NannySam TaylorPenguin Books 2018
ShortlistedNathacha 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.
AuthorTitleTranslatorPublication Information
WinnerAnne GarretaNot One DayEmma RamadanDeep Vellum Press, 2017
ShortlistedAlain MabanckouBlack MosesHelen StevensonThe New Press, 2017
ShortlistedMathias ÉnardCompassCharlotte MandellNew Directions Publishing, 2017
ShortlistedÉdouard LouisThe End of EddyMichael LuceyFarrar, Straus and Giroux, 2017
ShortlistedChristine AngotIncestTess 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.
AuthorTitleTranslatorPublication Information
WinnerAntoine VolodineBardo Or Not BardoJ.T. MahanyOpen Letter Books, 2017
ShortlistedAnanda DeviEve Out of Her RuinsJeffrey ZuckermanDeep Vellum, 2016
ShortlistedMaylis De KerangalThe HeartSam TaylorFarrar, Straus and Giroux, 2016