[2][5] They are registered and organised in groups by local librarians, supported by 40 independent bookstores and the network of 360 comités d'entreprise.
[4][6] A shortlist of ten novels is selected each year from medium and small scale French publishing houses by the Cezam Prix Litteraire organisers and the prize has a history of discovering new authors, such as Claudie Gallay, before they become bestsellers.
Author events are organised across France, with shortlisted writers from around the world being invited to visit the various regions to speak to and answer questions from the groups of readers.
[1][2][3] The 2011 winner was announced on Saturday 15 October in Strasbourg as Scottish author Peter May for his book The Blackhouse (L'Ile des Chasseurs d'Oiseaux).
It exists to promote reading, literacy and literature, not only by bringing groups of readers together to exchange thoughts with each other, but also by giving them the chance to meet and speak to the authors of the books.