We are delighted to share that There’s a Monster Behind the Door by Gaëlle Bélem (tr. Karen Fleetwood and Laëtitia Saint-Loubert) has been longlisted for this year’s International Booker Prize. It is one of 13 titles chosen by the 2025 judging panel, chaired by bestselling Booker Prize-longlisted author Max Porter. Porter is joined by prize-winning poet, director and photographer Caleb Femi; writer and Publishing Director of Wasafiri Sana Goyal; author and International Booker Prize-shortlisted translator Anton Hur; and award-winning singer-songwriter Beth Orton.
In their words: ‘In prose that throbs with verve, humour and pain, this narrative set on the island of Réunion brings to life a narrator beset with the history of her family and her people, who tries to use the power of language and literature to transcend her circumstances. While she fails within the story, the book succeeds – spectacularly – as a novel.’
We want to congratulate Bélem, Fleetwood, and Saint-Loubert on this recognition of their fantastic work. This is also a proud moment for Bullaun Press, especially as an independent publisher focused solely on literature in translation. It is the first time an Irish publisher has had a book of theirs included in the prestigious line-up.
None of this would have been possible without the Arts Council, which has supported us in commissioning and publishing international titles since 2022. We would also like to recognize Literature Ireland, Centre National du Livre, and Institut français for their generous support of the book, alongside the Embassy of France in Ireland for their assistance with Bélem’s visit to Ireland for the launch last October. Last but not least, thank you to all of the readers, booksellers, reviewers, and supporters of literature in translation who got behind us and this book.
And good news – if you enjoyed There’s a Monster Behind the Door then you are in luck! Fleetwood and Saint-Loubert have teamed up again to translate Bélem’s second novel, forthcoming this May 2025 from Bullaun Press as The Rarest Fruit.
Stay tuned and connect with us on Instagram, X, and BlueSky for more news on our next title in translation and updates as the awards progress.