Thélyson Orélien wins the 2026 Prix Première Plume
The Haitian-born author was chosen unanimously for his debut novel, C'était ça ou mourir, published by Grasset. He also appears on this year's first Goncourt selection.
Thélyson Orélien has been awarded the Prix Première Plume 2026 for his debut novel, C'était ça ou mourir, published by Grasset, according to Livres Hebdo.
The jury reached its decision unanimously, Livres Hebdo reports. The Prix Première Plume rewards a first novel each year, drawing attention to new voices in French-language fiction.
Orélien's book had already drawn notice this season: it figures in the first selection for the 2026 Prix Goncourt, according to Livres Hebdo, placing the debut novel alongside more established names in one of the year's closely watched literary races.
Sources
This article was written from these reports.
