The Fourth Edition
of the Prix du Titre
at the Hôtel de Paris Saint-Tropez
Since 2022, the Hôtel de Paris Saint-Tropez has hosted the Prix du Titre, a literary distinction celebrating works in which the title plays a decisive role in the reading experience. Each edition brings together an author, publishers, and devoted lovers of literature around a curated selection of books distinguished by the evocative power of their titles and the excellence of their writing.
Over the years, this gathering has established itself as an essential fixture of Saint-Tropez’s cultural life.
The Prix du Titre is evolving and now rewards the essay category, in addition to the novel category
This fourth edition introduced a new development: for the first time, the jury awarded two distinct prizes, one dedicated to the novel and the other to the essay. This expansion allows for a broader range of writing styles and offers recognition tailored to a complementary literary approach. The prize thus reaffirms its ambition to support the diversity of contemporary voices.
The 2025 Selection, a Diversity of Worlds and Sensibilities
The selection for this fourth edition brought together titles distinguished by their evocative power and the depth of their literary worlds. Novels and essays engage in dialogue within a single creative constellation.
Selected Novels
• Mer intérieure by Christophe Ono dit Biot, published by Éditions de l’Observatoire
• Clamser à Tataouine by Raphaël Quenard, published by Flammarion
• Une drôle de peine by Justine Lévy, published by Stock
• Je voulais vivre by Adélaïde de Clermont Tonnerre, published by Grasset
• Je rouille by Robin Watine, published by Calmann Lévy
• La vie sans fondement by Nicolas Krastev McKinnon, published by Philippe Rey
Selected Essays
• Les dernières fois by Sophie Galabru, published by Allary
• La promesse de l’art by Patrice Trigano, published by Éditions du Canoë
• Insoumission by Rudy Ricciotti, published by Albin Michel
• Garçons perdus by Astrid Faguet, published by Le Cherche midi
• L’heure des prédateurs by Giuliano da Empoli, published by Gallimard
Together, these works reflect a rich diversity of voices, sensibilities, and perspectives, embodying the spirit of openness and literary plurality championed by the Prix du Titre.
The Spirit of the Prix du Titre Selection at the Hôtel de Paris Saint-Tropez
True to the identity of the Prix du Titre, the jury seeks out titles that immediately awaken the imagination. A title that captures attention without revealing everything, that opens a promise of reading and already carries within it a fragment of the book’s soul. Each selected work reflects this exacting standard, where form and meaning converge in a strong and deliberate coherence.
Two Laureates Affirming the Richness of Contemporary Writing
Adélaïde de Clermont-Tonnerre · Laureate, Novel Category
With Je voulais vivre, Adélaïde de Clermont‑Tonnerre delivers a narrative imbued with rare emotional intensity. The title itself unfolds like a breath, a vital impulse that guides the entire work. The novel delicately explores trials, choices, and inner landscapes that shape a life. The jury praised the immediate force of this title and the depth of the writing that gives it substance.
Rudy Ricciotti · Laureate, Essay Category
Awarded for Insoumission, Rudy Ricciotti offers a text that questions freedom of thought, the relationship to creation, and the necessity of defending an independent voice. A recognized figure in architecture, he presents here a dense and committed essay. The title, marked by striking clarity, perfectly reflects the tension that animates the work and the author’s determination to confront dominant narratives. The jury was particularly receptive to the coherence between the title and the strength of the argument.
A Jury United by a Shared Literary Standard
Presided over by Agnès Bouquet, this fourth edition brought together a jury composed of leading figures from the worlds of art, literature, and culture, united around the Prix du Titre of the Hôtel de Paris Saint-Tropez. The deliberations included Fabrice Humbert, Alix Girod de l’Ain, Éric Garandeau, Charlotte Cachin, Stéphanie des Horts, Cyrille Gouyette, Adèle Bréau, Clotilde Leguil, Denis Zott, Blaise Renaud, and Walid Ben Youssef.
Each member contributed a distinct perspective and sensibility to the examination of the shortlisted works, engaging in dialogue, comparing interpretations, and debating before designating the laureates. These exchanges took place within the inspiring setting of the Hôtel de Paris Saint-Tropez, which each year provides the prize with its natural and symbolic home.
The ceremony held on 26 September 2025 concluded with the presentation of the awards by Simone Dray, owner of the Hôtel de Paris Saint-Tropez. Her longstanding commitment to authors and artists has, for many years, contributed to the cultural influence of the establishment, notably through Les Conversations d’Agnès, which punctuate the summer season. This year, these encounters were dedicated in particular to Thomas Schlesser, Régis Wargnier, and Aurélie Dupont, each featured in a dedicated exchange offering the public a privileged moment of dialogue around their career and work.
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