The Cezam Prix Litteraire Inter CE is a

literary Literature is any collection of written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry. In recent centuries, the definition has expanded to include ...

prize which was established in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

in 1997. Its judging panel of more than 3600 readers who meet in groups to discuss, critique and individually rate the books, makes it one of the largest adjudicated readers' prizes for literature in the world. It is organised by the French national network of ''comités d'entreprise'' (committees in workplaces of public and private enterprises which organise social and cultural events locally and nationwide). The prize brings together readers from all over France and from all walks of life who are connected through their workplace or community. They are registered and organised in groups by local librarians, supported by 40 independent bookstores and the network of 360 ''comités d'entreprise''. A shortlist of ten novels is selected each year from medium and small scale French publishing houses by the Cezam Prix Litteraire organisers and the prize has a history of discovering new authors, such as Claudie Gallay, before they become bestsellers. The jury panels meet in workplaces, libraries, bookstores, high schools, colleges and even penitentiaries. Author events are organised across France, with shortlisted writers from around the world being invited to visit the various regions to speak to and answer questions from the groups of readers. Each reader then awards ratings on several criteria for each of the books that they have read and these ratings are gathered and counted to determine the winning book. There are two levels of the prize: the votes are first counted at a local level to determine a winner for each of 25 regions then the votes are aggregated to determine the overall national prize-winner. The 2011 winner was announced on Saturday 15 October in Strasbourg as Scottish author Peter May for his book The Blackhouse (L'Ile des Chasseurs d'Oiseaux).

Origin and aims of the prize

The prize was organised initially as a local prize in Nantes and Angers, but grew through the network of Cezam to encompass France. It exists to promote reading, literacy and literature, not only by bringing groups of readers together to exchange thoughts with each other, but also by giving them the chance to meet and speak to the authors of the books.

Previous winners

* 1997: Alain Monnier ''Un amour de Parpot'' * 1998/9: Georges-Jean Arnaud ''Le rat de la Conciergerie'' * 2000: Angèle Jacq ''Le voyage de Jabel'' * 2001: Françoise Moreau ''Eau-forte'' * 2002: Christian Petit ''Bombay Victoria'' * 2003: Soazig Aaron ''Le non de Klara'' * 2004:

Emmanuel Dongala Emmanuel Boundzéki Dongala (born 1941) is a Congolese chemist and novelist. He was born in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, in 1941. He was Richard B. Fisher Chair in Natural Sciences at Bard College at Simon's Rock until 2014. As a chemist, hi ...

''Johnny chien méchant'' * 2005: Thierry Maugenest ''Venise.net'' * 2006: Bertina Henrichs ''La joueuse d'échecs'' * 2007: Maïssa Bey ''Bleu, blanc, vert'' * 2008:

Pierre Bordage Pierre Bordage (born 29 January 1955 in La Réorthe, Vendée) is a French science fiction author. He won the Cosmos 2000 prize in 1996 for his novel ''La Citadelle Hyponéros''. Pierre Bordage is one of France's best-selling science fiction writ ...

''Porteur d'âmes'' * 2009:

Marie-Sabine Roger Marie-Sabine Roger (born 19 September 1957, Bordeaux) is a French writer. Biography Published for the first time in 1989 in youth literature, Marie-Sabine Roger has not stopped writing since, in very varied registers, picture books and story ...

''La tête en friche'' * 2010:

Sebastian Barry Sebastian Barry (born 5 July 1955) is an Irish novelist, playwright and poet. He was named Laureate for Irish Fiction, 2019–2021. He is noted for his lyrical literary writing style and is considered one of Ireland's finest writers. Barry's l ...

''Le testament caché'' ('' The Secret Scripture'') * 2011: Peter May, ''L'ile des chasseurs d'oiseaux'', ('' The Blackhouse'') * 2012: Dan Waddel, for ''Code 1879'' * 2013: Hélène Gestern, for ''Eux sur la photo'' * 2014: Gilles Vincent, for ''Beso de la muerte'' * 2015: Jean-Paul Didierlaurent, for ''Le liseur du 6h27''

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cezam Prix Litteraire Inter CE French literary awards Awards established in 1997 1997 establishments in France