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The debut fiction title was highlighted as a prize‑winning collection of 59 interconnected short stories inspired by the historical Code Noir. The host noted that judges described it as a virtuoso work that breaks new ground in short fiction, emphasizing its innovative approach and cultural relevance. The discussion conveyed strong enthusiasm for the book’s literary merit.
Episode: NPR News: 05-02-2025 12AM EDT
This debut fiction book by the Canadian writer, known more for her poetry, is a collection of 59 connected short stories. The stories took inspiration from French King Louis XIV's laws that legalized and regulated slavery in France and the French colonies.
Her debut fiction book, Code Noir, won her the prize, though. It's a collection of 59 connected short stories taking inspiration from French King Louis XIV's laws legalizing and regulating slavery in France and the French colonies.
Judges for the Carol Shields Prize called it a, quote, virtuoso collection that breaks new ground in short fiction.