The Book Department of Villa Albertine works with Albertine Foundation, the Institut français and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to promote French and Francophone literature and to encourage English translations of French books in all categories (fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, comics and poetry). To that effect, it oversees programs concerning translations from French into English of works that have not yet been published in the United States.
The Book department administers two programs:
Albertine Translation fund and Acquisition of Rights.
For the Acquisition of Rights program, please click on the following link.
In 2006, Albertine Foundation (formerly known as FACE Foundation) and the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, in partnership with the PEN American Center, launched the French Voices program. The objective was to create what would become, over an initial period of three years, a collection of 30 books representing the best of contemporary French and Francophone literature and thought. Sixteen years later, the collection has largely surpassed its objective and is now more than 170 titles strong. It includes a wide range of works representing some of the best of French-language fiction and non-fiction alike.
In 2022, the Book Department of the newly launched Villa Albertine is proud to reveal the Albertine Translation fund, a new and enhanced version of French Voices.
The Albertine Translation fund recognizes the quality of both the original work and the translation. A committee of independent professional experts (academics, translators, and publishers) selects works that epitomize the many facets of a vibrant French literary scene. Funds go to books representing new trends in fiction, children’s books, poetry, graphic novels and important points of view in non-fiction.
The Albertine Translation fund honors both translators and American publishers for English translations of works that have been published in France in the last 10 years. Each book receives $2,000 to cover publishing costs, and 50% of the translation costs that cannot exceed $5,000.
Furthermore, the Albertine Translation committee chooses, among the recipients, two Albertine Translation prizes winners each year – one in fiction and one in non-fiction. The winners receive $5,000 to be allocated to the translator.
It should be noted that works that do not have an American publisher can be a recipient of the Albertine Translation fund. The French publisher will have a year to secure an acquisition of rights contract with an American publisher for the English translation.
The works published in the US that benefited from the Albertine Translation fund must carry a logo of the program on their cover and mention of the program on the copyright page.
The 2024 Call for projects is open
Application deadline: FEBRUARY 2, 2024
Books & Ideas Department translation@villa-albertine.org