Albanian writer Rita Petro is one of the 13 candidates for this year’s European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL). Petro competes in this edition with the novel ” Born Cantankerously”.

Established in 2009, this prize is a literary award of the European Union. Its aim is to recognize writers from across Europe, promote the circulation and translation of literature among European countries, and highlight the creativity and diversity of the continent.

The winners of the prize are promoted throughout Europe and beyond, online, in libraries, and at book fairs.

Some of the Albanian writers who have been honored by the EUPL are: Ben Blushi for “Othello, the Arab of Vlora”, Rudi Erebara for “The Epic of the Morning Stars”, Tom Kuka for “The Flames” (Tom Kuka is the literary pseudonym of journalist Enkel Demi), Shpëtim Selmani for “The Book of Love”, and Ag Apolloni for “The Red-Feathered Hat, a Tale for Grown-ups”.

Every year, national juries composed of experts in the fields of literature, publishing, and book sales are created in one-third of the participating countries in the Creative Europe program. After selecting a shortlist of 2 to 5 books from the most promising writers in their country, each jury chooses its national winner.

Each EUPL laureate receives €5000, and support for translation and promotion of their book. An EUPL anthology is also published every year, containing excerpts from the acclaimed books of all laureates in both the original language and an English or French translation.

/k.s/