The Fnac Prize, one of the first major literary awards of the season, was recently given to Thélyson Orélien, a Canadian-Haitian writer, for his novel C'était ça ou mourir (That or Die). The award was presented on Monday and marks a significant milestone for the 38-year-old author, who now lives in Ottawa, Canada, after leaving Haiti in 2010. Orélien is a first-time novelist whose work has quickly captured attention in the literary world. The Fnac Prize is awarded by 400 members and 400 booksellers from the Fnac chain, a well-known French bookstore and electronics retailer. The award aims to "celebrate the diversity of contemporary literary creation, whether it is Francophone or translated." This focus highlights the importance of both French-language literature and works that have been translated into French, offering a platform for voices from around the world. In C'était ça ou mourir, published by Grasset, Orélien tells the story of Jonas Dorléon, a history-geography teacher who flees his homeland, trapped in the violence of gangs. His journey takes him through twelve countries before reaching Canada, where he finds a sense of safety and freedom he had lost. The novel, written in French and published in spring in Canada, has received praise from critics and is listed among bestsellers. It is also under consideration for major French literary prizes, including the Goncourt, the Médicis, and the Fémina. Orélien expressed surprise and joy at the novel's success. In a recent interview with AFP during the book's promotion in France, he said, "This success is surprising. I am surprised by what is happening to me, but it makes me very happy." The novel was released in France on August 20. Notably, in 2025, the Fnac Prize had previously been awarded to an international author, the Irish writer John Boyne, for his book Les éléments (The Elements), published by JC Lattès.