In the lead-up to last night’s Prince Pierre Foundation awards ceremony, the six writers shortlisted for this year’s Discovery Grant, a prize dedicated to first-time novelists, met with readers in Monaco for an intimate literary exchange…
Each of the featured novels marks its author’s debut publication, bringing with it the rawness and freshness that only a first work can deliver. Speaking candidly to the audience, the nominees reflected on the courage required to turn private experience into literature. One author noted that a first book often carries “its own fragility, and that’s precisely where its beauty lies.”
The gathering offered a rare opportunity for writers and readers to converse directly, not as distant critics and creators, but as equals sharing a love of language. For many of the nominees, simply being invited to Monaco felt like recognition in itself. “To be read, to be seen, that already feels like winning,” one said.
Only one of the six will be awarded the €12,000 Discovery Grant during the Prince Pierre Foundation’s official ceremony, which honours achievements across literature, music, and the arts. But judging by the enthusiasm in the room, the future of francophone literature is already well underway.
Image: Monaco Info
