Icelandic novel wins prestigious French award

An Icelandic novel has been voted “the best and most creative foreign novel to be published in France in the past year” by the jury of the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire literary awards.

LoveStar, published in the original Icelandic back in 2002, is by author Andri Snær Magnason is described by World Literature Today as a “stinging satire” on capitalism, power and invasive bureaucracy.

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The Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire awards were founded in 1974 and are France’s oldest existing literary accolades. There are ten categories and Magnason’s novel won ‘Best Translated Novel’.

The award ceremony takes place in Saint-Malo, France, this Sunday.

Andri Snær Magnason is currently in the race to become Iceland’s next President. LoveStar is also available in English translation.

Magnason, with his wife Margrét Sjöfn Torp. Photo: Iceland Monitor/Freyja Gylfa