Lectures Festival

Désir de Livres is a literary association dedicated to celebrating reading and sharing literary culture with the public. Based in Martel, France, it brings together readers, authors and other book lovers through events held throughout the year. Its annual Lectures Festival highlights literature and offers audiences the chance to discover works and meet the people behind them. The association also organises activities beyond the festival, including author encounters, readings, workshops for children, public dictations and events connected with music and culture.

A central initiative is the Anne Ténès Prize, through which middle- and high-school students select the winning author. The prize honours Anne Ténès’s commitment and memory while encouraging young people to engage with literature. Désir de Livres presents information about participating authors, readers, upcoming events and past editions, and invites the community to support its work through membership. By creating opportunities to encounter books, exchange ideas and discover new writing, the association works to make literary culture an active, shared part of community life.