Korean epic fantasy 'The Bird That Drinks Tears' wins French literary prize
Fantasy writer Lee Young-do’s “The Bird that Drinks Tears” has won the 2026 Prix du livre Cultissime in France, a prize recognizing fiction deemed likely to endure as a future classic. The award went to the first French-language volume of Lee’s four-part fantasy series at the Cultissime Festival in Angers, France. The festival, which celebrates works with lasting popular appeal, announced the…
Korean fantasy writer Lee Young-do's "The Bird That Drinks Tears," the first French-language volume of his four-part series, has won the 2026 Prix du livre Cultissime in France. The award, presented at the Cultissime Festival in Angers, recognizes fiction with enduring popularity. The prize was decided through a vote split between the public and a professional panel, and Lee's novel was chosen from five finalists, including works by French author Adelaide de Clermont-Tonnerre, American writer Virginia Evans, Irish novelist John Boyne, and French young-adult author Julia Thevenot.
In a statement, Lee expressed gratitude for the honor and reflected on the solitary nature of writing, emphasizing the strength writers find despite the luxurious age.
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