The City of Avignon launches the first Avignon Literary Prize. From 1is October and until November 12, Avignon residents and all lovers of literature are invited to choose their favorite novel of the autumn literary season from among the five selected works. Readings, round tables, lunches-sandwiches and numerous activities will make these five works better known and vote who will win the first prize.
The five selected novels are available on loan from municipal libraries and on sale in affiliated bookstores.
A word from Cécile Helle
To see the birth of a Literary Prize, in a city with such a cultural aura and such a fertile artistic heritage… we dreamed of it and we did it!
It is a great pleasure to see that this event around literature is taking place today for Avignon. An event that sounds obvious but that had to be built with acuity to give it its full meaning. And it is also and above all with your participation that this first Avignon Literary Prize will be able to take its full measure: it is up to you to read and choose your favorite novel, among five works of the literary season selected by a commission of booksellers, teachers and librarians , whom I would like to thank here for their involvement.
In addition to the taste of reading that these novels will offer each of us, I also invite you to participate in the rich program of events created until November 12, to discover them in a new way.
City of inspiration, creation and literature, Avignon continues its beautiful and dynamic Land of Culture 2025 with this Literary Prize: happy reading to all!
.
How to choose your favorite book?
Voting until November 12!
Presentation of the award to the winning writer
Saturday 3 December at 3:30 pm at the Théâtre des Halles
List the selected books
The evaporated
Fanny Chiarello, Wendy Delorme
Cambourakis editions
“What can a woman do suddenly abandon the one to whom she has just said: What wonderful moments I spent with you, even today: I want it every day of my life?” This is the question Jenny faced after Eve’s departure. They will both learn that “you can experience the same story in two totally different ways”.
The pawn
Paco Cerda
La Contre Allée editions
Stockholm, winter 1962. Two men from opposite worlds face each other. Arturo Pomar, the Spanish child prodigy, faces Bobby Fischer, an eccentric and ambitious young American on the chessboard.
In the midst of the Cold War, one was the pawn of the Franco regime, the other will be that of the United States.
- First selection of the Best Foreign Book Award – non-fiction category.
Elefteria
Murielle Szac
Emmanuelle Collas Editions
1940, north of Crete. The Jewish community celebrates Rosh Hashanah. Rebecca listens to gossip about Stella’s future marriage. We also ask ourselves about the war that has begun in Europe. Will Metaxas, the dictator in power in Athens, be able to resist Mussolini and his ally Hitler? Soon, Nikos’ boat, the Tanaïs, is requisitioned by the Greek army. Despite the threat, life continues … until the morning of May 20, 1941, when the 3rd Reich launches an air invasion of Crete. Should we flee or should we stay? It is time to find out if we are free to choose our destiny.
Dreams of gold and steel
Emilia Ton
Editions out of reach
I want to know how my father got to this Lorraine where steel flows, to understand how he became this man whose destiny has been repeatedly broken, who never gave up. He always said it: “When you have lost everything several times, you are no longer afraid to start. ”
The invention of the devil
Hubert Haddad
Zulma editions
Papillon de Lasphrise has retired to his ivory Angevin tower. After an existence dedicated to love and war, he is entirely inhabited by the demon of writing. In the evening of his life, he makes a pact with the devil: until his poems have reached posterity, he will not know eternal rest. Immortality will be his curse.
Activities calendar
- Saturday 1is October
14: 30-17: 30
Garden of the Ceccano Library
Discovery of the Avignon Literary Prize After the official announcement by the Mayor of the selected novels, readings and activities around the books will be proposed.
- Friday 7 October
- half past twelve
Ceccano Library
Midi sandwich To start, place a Elefteria by Murielle Szac (Emmanuelle Collas Editions). - 18:30
Library The memory of the world
Reading circle
- Wednesday 12 October
16h
Ceccano Library
The literary return of the high school students of the Lycée René Char Introduce yourself to the Avignonei Literary Prize: go to the Ceccano Library where high school students will talk to you, with conviction, about the selected novels. They will read you excerpts, discuss their favorites … or their invectives … For you, this will be a first approach to the 5 selected novels.
- Friday 14 October
half past twelve
Ceccano Library
Midi sandwich * For this 2nd meeting, find out The invention of the devil by Hubert Haddad (Edizioni Zulma). - 18:30
Ceccano Library
The literary return of librarians Your librarians invite you to take part in the new literary season: go to the Ceccano library to take a quick look at the new releases and to talk about the favorites of the new school year … and to tell you about the novels selected as part of the Avignon Literary Prize !
- Friday 21 October
- half past twelve
Ceccano Library
Midi sandwich * For this 3rd meeting, find out The evaporated by Wendy Delorme and Fanny Chiarello (Cambourakis Editions). - 18:30
Ceccano Library
The literary return of the booksellers Your booksellers invite you to share their literary season. Appointment at the Ceccano Library to get a quick overview of the new releases and to talk about their favorites for the start of the new school year… and to tell you about the novels selected for the Avignon Literary Prize!
- Friday 28th October
half past twelve
Ceccano Library
Midi sandwich * For this 4th meeting, find out Dreams of gold and steel by Émilie Tôn (Hors d’accès Editions).
- Friday 4th November
- half past twelve
Ceccano Library
Midi sandwich * For this 5th meeting, find out The pawn by Paco Cerdà, translated by Marielle Leroy (Editions La Contre Allée). - 18:30
Library The memory of the world
Reading circle
- Wednesday 9 November
19h-21h
Carmelite Theater
Literary speeches Discussion moderated by Michel Flandrin around the 5 selected novels: each novel will be defended by “his team” made up of a bookseller, a librarian, a high school student and a passionate reader. Another way to discover the works running for the Prize. Michel Flandrin is a cultural columnist, editor of the site: “Les Sorties de Michel Flandrin”.
- Saturday 12th November
15:30
Ceccano Library
Walk among the works Paul Fructus will make a personal reading of the 5 novels: he will highlight extracts that will have moved him. This will be the last moment of meeting around these works, before the award ceremony. If you still weren’t sure who to vote for, this should help. Emotions guaranteed! Paul Fructus is an actor and author, creative craftsman of the company Le Temps de Dire.
- Saturday 3rd December
15: 30-17: 30
Halles Theater
Delivery of the prize to the winning writer by Cécile Helle, Mayor of Avignon Festive ceremony: excerpts from the award-winning novel will be read by the actor Paul Fructus; A meeting with the winning writer, interviewed by Michel Flandrin, will follow.
YOUR PARTNER LIBRARIES
YOUR LIBRARIES
- Ceccano Library
2 bis, rue Laboureur – Avignon
Spaces for adults / Music / Heritage: 04 90 85 15 59
Youth area: 04 90 82 81 71
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 11am to 7pm.
Wednesday and Saturday, from 10:00 to 18:00
- Ephemeral library Jean-Louis Barrault
8, rue René Goscinny – Parc de la Murette – Avignon
04 13 60 50 74
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 1pm to 6.30pm.
Wednesday and Saturday, from 10:00 to 18:00
- Pierre Boulle Library
Clos des Fontaines – 8, place du viguier – Avignon
04 90 87 56 96
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, from 9:00 to 12:30
Thursday, from 9:00 to 12:30 and from 13:30 to 17:30
- Champfleury Library
Rue Marie Madeleine – Avignon
04 90 82 62 12
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 1pm to 6.30pm.
Wednesday, from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 18:00
- Paul & Alice Ccluchier Library
Canton Park – Montfavet
04 13 60 50 35
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 1pm to 6.30pm.
Wednesday and Saturday, from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 18:00
- Saint Chamand Library
Avenue François Mauriac – Avignon
04 90 87 61 05
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 1pm to 6.30pm.
Wednesday, from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 18:00
Return
