The Literary Council of the Prince Pierre Foundation, chaired by Her Royal Highness Princess of Hanover, met on May 14 at the Ritz Hotel in Paris to select the finalists for the 2025 Prince Pierre Literary Prize and the Discovery Grant for emerging authors…
This prestigious meeting brought together respected literary figures, including Dominique Bona and Amin Maalouf, to discuss the works that most resonated with them this year.
Four celebrated French-speaking writers were shortlisted for the Literary Prize: Nathacha Appanah, Louis-Philippe Dalembert, Marie-Hélène Lafon, and Marie Nimier. The prize, created in 1951, honours an established author for their entire body of work, on the occasion of a recent publication. This year’s shortlist was noted for its strong female representation, a fact welcomed by the jury as a sign of the depth and vitality of contemporary women’s writing.
For the Discovery Grant, six first-time authors were selected: Ruben Baroukh, Alice Develey, Jonathan Dumani, Thierry Thomas, Adèle Yon, and Nathalie Zajde. The grant, launched in 2001, supports promising debut authors whose work reflects originality and literary ambition. Jury members praised the range and creativity of this year’s debut novels.
Amin Maalouf, now a member of the Académie Française, reflected on the jury’s role in both confirming established talent and supporting new voices. The winners will be announced at the Opéra Garnier de Monaco on October 14, 2025, during the Prince Pierre Foundation’s annual awards ceremony, in the presence of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II.
Image: ©FPP-Cyril Bailleul
