As part of Bonjour India, a project to strengthen the Indo-French partnership, the French Institute in India has announced the shortlist of the first Romain Rolland Book Prize.
The award, which will be announced during Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), will be given to the best translation of a French work of contemporary and classical fiction into any of the Indian languages including English.
While the shortlist includes classics like 'Once Upon a Time in India' by Alfred Assolant, translation of 'Aventures merveilleuses mais authentiques du Capitaine Corcoran' into English by Sam Miller; it also has 'Main Gumshuda' by Nobel winner Patrick Modiano, translation of 'Rue des boutiques obscures' into Hindi by Monica Singh.
Other shortlisted entries include 'The Red Sofa' by Michle Lesbre, translation of 'Le canap rouge' into English by Nicole and David Ball; 'Sooraavalee' by JMG Le Clzio, translation of 'Tempte' into Tamil by S A Vengada Soupraya Nayagar.
The award will be given by the French Minister of Culture, Franoise Nyssen.
The shortlist was selected by a jury consisting of literary critiques and translators including Namita Ghokhale, author and co-director of JLF; Annie Montaut, Michle Albaret-Maatsch, Renuka George, and Chinmoy Guha.
"The jury has taken into account the qualities of the translation and of the publication itself. The prize aims at encouraging and awarding the efforts made by Indian publishers to bring the best of the Francophone literature, in all its diversity, to the Indian readership," the organisers said.
Named after the eminent French dramatist-novelist Romain Rolland, the award will consist of invitation to the Paris Book Fair 2018 for the translator and the publisher of the winning title.
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