In a major win for both Irish publishing and global literature in translation, Bullaun Press has been awarded the 2025 Republic of Consciousness prize for small presses with There’s a Monster Behind the Door by Gaëlle Bélem (read our article about the book). The novel, originally written in French and translated into English by Karen Fleetwood and Laëtitia Saint-Loubert, has also earned a place on the longlist for this year’s International Booker prize, signaling its growing international impact.
Described by prize judge Houman Barekat as a “rollicking, sardonic picaresque,” the novel combines serious themes with an irreverent narrative voice. “The novel has important things to say about colonialism and society,” Barekat said, “but it’s also tremendous fun – darkly funny, acerbic, energetic.” That duality—the ability to critique and entertain simultaneously—is one of the defining features of Bélem’s writing, and what makes the novel so resonant.
Set in the 1980s on Réunion Island, a French overseas department and Bélem’s birthplace, There’s a Monster Behind the Door is a coming-of-age story wrapped in biting satire. According to judge Jude Cook, the book is “a compact, comic tour-de-force” that deals with weighty issues like postcolonial legacy and domestic abuse through a light and accessible touch. This delicate balancing act, pairing serious subject matter with comic energy, is at the core of its success.
The book is Bélem’s debut novel, and it originally made waves in France by winning the Grand Prix du Roman Métis and the Prix André Dubreuil du Premier Roman. A secondary school teacher and associate juvenile court judge by profession, Bélem brings a grounded, socially conscious perspective to her writing. Her work speaks with both authority and heart, delivering narratives that challenge dominant frameworks without succumbing to pessimism.
Prize judge Alice Jolly praised Bélem’s “tragi-comedy” as a refreshing break from the standard trauma novel. “It disrupts the tired trope and is equally brutal in its critique of postcolonial narratives,” Jolly noted. “The writing is lively, supple and vigorous. The work of the translators who have brought this book to English-speaking audiences must also be celebrated.”
Indeed, the collaborative effort behind the book’s translation has been widely recognized. Translators Karen Fleetwood and Laëtitia Saint-Loubert succeeded in capturing Bélem’s nuanced tone and stylistic agility, a crucial feat for a book so rooted in its cultural and linguistic context.
Bullaun Press, the small but ambitious publisher behind the English edition, has quickly made a name for itself in the world of literary translation. Founded in 2021 by Bridget Farrell, Bullaun Press takes its name from the Irish word “bullán,” referring to a stone with a water-holding hollow often associated with mystical or healing powers. This symbolic name reflects the press’s commitment to publishing books that offer unique perspectives and transformative reading experiences.
Fittingly, Bullaun’s victory represents more than a win for a single book. It highlights the vibrant, often underappreciated world of small presses working in literary translation. The Republic of Consciousness prize, established to champion these presses in the UK and Ireland, offers both recognition and financial support. All longlisted presses received £500, while shortlisted titles earned an additional £1,000, divided between the press (70%) and the writer and translators (30%).
The 2025 shortlist also included Invisible Dogs by Charles Boyle (CB Editions), How to Leave the World by Marouane Bakhti, translated by Lara Vergnaud (Divided Publishing), Célina by Catherine Axelrad, translated by Philip Terry (Les Fugitives), and Mother Naked by Glen James Brown (Peninsula Press). Each of these works showcases the innovative spirit and cultural richness that small presses bring to readers.
The Republic of Consciousness prize has a strong track record of identifying outstanding literary talent from small presses. Previous winners include Fitzcarraldo Editions for Counternarratives by John Keene, Influx Press for Attrib. and other stories by Eley Williams, and in 2024, Charco Press with Of Cattle and Men by Brazilian author Ana Paula Maia, translated by Zoë Perry.
In awarding Bullaun Press, the prize committee affirms the power of independent publishing to spotlight bold voices like Bélem’s. There’s a Monster Behind the Door stands out not only for its literary quality, but for its capacity to engage readers with a fresh lens on postcolonial identity, gendered violence, and adolescence—all while maintaining a wicked sense of humor.
