Catalan author Eva Baltasar wins prize for best foreign novel translated into French

'Déclin et fascination,' the French translation of Eva Baltasar's novel 'Twilight and Fascination,' has won the Prix Médicis Étranger, which recognizes the best foreign novel translated into French each year. 

The book, published in Catalan as 'Ocàs i fascinació' by Club Editor, was translated by Annie Bats and released in France by the publishing house Éditions Verdier. It is the first Catalan book to receive the award.

Baltasar was a finalist for the award in 2020 with 'Permafrost,' the French version of her novel 'Permagel.' Before her nominations, the only other Catalan novel to be a finalist was 'Jo confesso' by Jaume Cabré.

Club Editor extended its congratulations to its colleagues at Éditions Verdier and to Bats for her expertise, without which, it said, a portion of Catalan literature would not exist in French. 

The publisher also noted it is awaiting word on whether Spanish film director Pedro Almodóvar will choose one of two other Balasar novels, 'Boulder' and 'Fishes,' for film adaptation. 

It also said it looks forward to the arrival of Balasar's 'Triptych' series, which includes in the United States this March, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (FSG), a prestigious American publishing house. The series includes the novels 'Permafrost,' 'Boulder,' and 'Mammoth.'