The Principality’s Salon International du Livre brings authors and readers together for two days of immersive exchange
Books are portable worlds, and in an age that prizes speed and spectacle, their quiet authority feels almost sacred. Each year, Monaco recognises this significance. Under the high patronage of Prince Albert II, the Grimaldi Forum hosts the 14th Salon International du Livre on 6 and 7 September 2025, welcoming nearly 150 authors from 12 countries. For two days, debate, discovery, and dialogue remind visitors why careful attention to words remains invaluable.
Although intimate in size, this salon has quietly become one of the most respected European book fairs. Literature takes shape in the voices of its creators. Each writer brings a distinct perspective, shaping stories through meticulous craft and lived experience. Readers are encouraged to exchange with authors and ask questions, challenge choices, and explore the insights that give life to every page.
Meet for instance Andréï Makine. The Russian emigré to France, member of the Académie Française and Prix Goncourt winner exemplifies literature’s capacity to probe memory, emotion, and the human experience. In Prisonnier du rêve écarlate, he examines love, memory, and redemption with delicate precision. He lingers over a single sentence here or a fragment of memory there, showing how subtle gestures in storytelling carry profound impact.
Bastien Loukia adds a very different dimension. His nine-language graphic adaptation of Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment shows how literature evolves beyond text, retaining ethical and psychological depth in visual form.
Philippe Charlier approaches narrative from a different perspective. The forensic anthropologist who has studied the remains of Henri IV and Agnès Sorel explores Japanese folklore in Monstres Yokaï, merging science and myth. He also chairs the inaugural Prix Pythéas de l’Aventure, celebrating French-language works of travel and exploration published between June 2024 and June 2025. The jury discerning this award, including journalist Nikos Aliagas and alpinist-writer Orianne Aymard, values writing that embraces risk and firsthand experience.
Aymard herself embodies that spirit. Her accounts of high-altitude climbing combine technical precision with reflection on human ambition and survival. Conversations with her reveal how literature can document lived experience while probing broader questions about endurance and attention.
One much-anticipated guest, Louis Sarkozy, had to excuse himself on short notice due to scheduling conflicts. His place will be taken by François Bernheim, author of Eddie Barclay et moi, who brings an insider’s portrait of the music industry and its enduring personalities.
Monaco views this event also as a commitment to the next generation of writers. The Interlycéens writing competition nurtures young talent. More than thirty participating students have the opportunity to share their words with a wider audience. This investment in youthful creativity speaks to the principality’s belief that literature is more than cultural prestige – it forms part of Monaco’s civic identity.
For two days, the 14th Salon International du Livre de Monaco demonstrates the enduring vitality of books. Ideas circulate, conversations deepen, and literature asserts its capacity to illuminate, challenge, and endure. Curiosity is rewarded, attention is cultivated, and readers and writers are reminded of the subtle, lasting power of words.
At the Salon International du Livre de Monaco, words stir emotion, recount shared adventures, and trace life’s journeys. In gentle tones, they testify to love. They sometimes leave salty tears but also lend the eyes their armour, convey life, and grant immortality.
— Organising Committee
VISITOR INFORMATION
Grimaldi Forum Monaco
10 Av. Princesse Grace
98000 Monaco
Tel : +377 99 99 3000
Free admission to the book fair | Opening hours: 10 am to 6 pm
All images and photographs courtesy Salon International du Livre de Monaco; lead image © Grimaldi Forum
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