‘The Bird That Drinks Tears’ French edition. Provided by Minumsa

Publisher Hwanggeumgaji said on the 31st that the full-length fantasy <The Bird That Drinks Tears> by author Lee Yeongdo has been shortlisted in the Foreign Novel category of France’s leading genre literature prize, ‘Grand Prix de l‘Imaginaire’ (Grand Prix de l‘Imaginaire).

This prize is the most prestigious SF and fantasy literary award in France, selected by a jury of experts including journalists, writers, and critics.

Hwanggeumgaji conveyed that the local French publisher assessed that merely reaching the final shortlist amounts to recognition of its artistic merit in France and across Europe. The winner will be announced on May 18 at the French literary event ‘La Comedie du Livre’ (La Comedie du Livre).

<The Bird That Drinks Tears> is a four-volume epic fantasy published in 2003, praised for its worldbuilding that creatively weaves together Korean elements such as goblins, ssireum, and yutnori. It has sold more than 1 million copies and has established itself as a representative work of Korean fantasy literature.

The work has been translated and published in more than 30 countries, including Germany, Italy, Spain, the Czech Republic, and Ukraine. Hwanggeumgaji said that volume one of the French edition sold over 20,000 copies within four months of release, drawing interest from local readers.

Translated by Anton Hur, well known as the translator of Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung, the first volume is also scheduled to be published in the United States and the United Kingdom this June.