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Canadian and Irish authors on Monday were awarded two of France's most prestigious literary prizes, the juries announced.
Nancy Huston, a 53-year-old Calgary-born writer who has lived in Paris since 1973, won the Prix Femina for her book -- written in French -- "Lignes de Faille" (Faultlines).
At the same time, Irish author Nuala O'Faolain, 64, was pronounced the winner of the Prix Femina for non-French writing for her "The Story of Chicago May".
Huston's book tells the stories of four six-year-old children -- each of whom is the parent of the preceding one. It ranges from North America to Europe and spans decades, yet what is seen is the consequences on one generation of decisions made by the one before.
O'Faolain's work reinforced her already solid reputation by recounting the life of a notorious Irish criminal.
A separate top-ranking literary prize panel on Monday also awarded France's Prix Medicis to a Tunisian-born writer and journalist, Sorj Chalandon, for his novel "La Promesse" (The Promise).
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AFPEntertainment-France-Canada-Ireland-Tunisia-book-prize
AFP 301226 GMT 10 06
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