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Lebanese Author Wins Prestigious Mediterranean Readers’ Prize
Franco-Lebanese author Georgia Makhlouf just scored a major literary win and it’s making waves across the Mediterranean. Her novel Pays Amer (Bitter Country) was crowned the very first winner of the newly launched Mediterranean Readers’ Prize, thanks to a passionate reader vote in Perpignan, France.
A powerful story that struck a chord
Makhlouf’s award-winning novel didn’t just impress; it connected. Voted by members of the “Des livres et nous” reading circle at Perpignan’s Media Library, Pays Amer stood out for its emotional depth and original storytelling.
Inspired by a trailblazer
At the heart of the novel is the legacy of Marie Al Khazen, Lebanon’s groundbreaking female photographer (1893–1983). Her life served as a powerful muse for Makhlouf’s fiction, weaving together themes of memory, identity, and the Mediterranean’s layered history.
An official celebration to come
Georgia Makhlouf will receive her prize this fall during a special ceremony in Perpignan, where she’ll be honored alongside other winners of the 2025 Mediterranean Prize. A proud moment for Lebanese literature and one worth celebrating.
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