Bibliothèque nationale de France awards Alberto Manguel and Patti Smith

The Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) has awarded its annual prize to Argentine writer and essayist Alberto Manguel. In an exceptional move, the institution also granted a special jury prize to American artist and musician Patti Smith.

The BnF stated that the double distinction honors two singular bodies of work that promote intercultural dialogue and openness regarding documentary heritage. While the 10,000-euro prize traditionally recognizes the lifetime achievement of a living French-language author, the jury decided to extend the award to a foreign writer this year. This decision follows the criteria that the recipient's work has been translated into French and maintains close ties to French culture.

Alberto Manguel, a renowned bibliophile and former director of Argentina’s National Library, was recognized for his work exploring the experience of reading. Patti Smith was honored as a major figure in contemporary creation across multiple disciplines, including poetry, literature, music, and visual arts.