Yasnaya Polyana Literary Award

やすなや・ぽりゃーなぶんがくしょう

Annual literary award established in 2003 by the Leo Tolstoy State Museum and Samsung, targeting works in Russian (or Russian translations).

Modern Russian ProseForeign FictionNew Adult / YouthPersonality of the YearMissed MasterpieceReaders' ChoiceYasnaya Polyana School of Criticism Review

Established: 2003
Organizer: Yasnaya Polyana (Leo Tolstoy State Museum) and Samsung Electronics (Samsung)
Category: Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Selection Method: Open call
Target: Open
Frequency: 1 per year
Application Deadline: around September
Announcement Period: around October
Status: Active

Description

The Yasnaya Polyana Literary Award is a Russian annual literary prize founded in 2003 by Yasnaya Polyana (Leo Tolstoy State Museum) and Samsung, aimed at preserving classical literature traditions while recognizing contemporary literary talent. Targets works written in Russian or translated into Russian, with multiple categories (modern Russian prose, foreign literature, young adult, etc.). Selection often proceeds through longlist, shortlist, and final stages, with Readers' Choice decided by online voting. Total fund is 6,700,000 rubles (as of 2024), distributed as prize money and special awards per category.

Prize

Main Prize: Prize money by category (high amounts for main categories), custom statuette for winners. Readers' Choice includes supplementary prizes such as a themed tour to Korea (provided by Samsung), etc.
Cash Prize: 6,700,000 RUB

Custom statuette (all winners)
Readers' Choice: Themed tour (Korea, provided by Samsung) and monetary prize in some years
Foreign Fiction category winners include translator prize (e.g., 500,000₽ to translator)
Distribution examples by category: Modern Russian Prose 3,000,000₽ (winner), Foreign Fiction 1,200,000₽ (winner), etc. (varies by year)

Selection

Selection Process

Stage	Judges	Pass Rate	Announcement
Longlist	First selection by selection committee (writers, critics, literary scholars, etc.)	Unknown	Longlist announced on official site sometime from May to September (varies by year)
Shortlist	Second selection by the same judging panel	Unknown	Shortlist announced on official site after longlist (usually May to September)
Final Selection (Winner Determination)	Final review by jury committee (meeting or discussion format)	Unknown	Final winners officially announced in October
Readers' Choice (Reader Voting)	Online voting by general readers (official site, etc.)	Unknown	Online voting results announced on official site, supplementary prizes (e.g., travel or money) awarded to winner

Longlist

Judges First selection by selection committee (writers, critics, literary scholars, etc.)

Pass Rate Unknown

Announcement Longlist announced on official site sometime from May to September (varies by year)

Shortlist

Judges Second selection by the same judging panel

Pass Rate Unknown

Announcement Shortlist announced on official site after longlist (usually May to September)

Final Selection (Winner Determination)

Judges Final review by jury committee (meeting or discussion format)

Pass Rate Unknown

Announcement Final winners officially announced in October

Readers' Choice (Reader Voting)

Judges Online voting by general readers (official site, etc.)

Pass Rate Unknown

Announcement Online voting results announced on official site, supplementary prizes (e.g., travel or money) awarded to winner

Criteria

Inheritance of classical literature traditions in style and themes
Contemporary literary value and reflection of the times
For translations: translation quality and fidelity to original expression
Originality of narrative and style, potential for acclaim from readers and critics

Application Tips

Dos

Check official site entry requirements and category specs in advance
Accurately fill in submission materials (publication info, translator info, etc.)
Submit works as Russian originals or high-quality Russian translations
Meet deadline and use specified submission method (online/post, etc.)

Don''ts

Do not submit past deadline
Do not omit translator credits for translated works
Do not submit unpolished manuscripts violating morals or rules
Do not duplicate submit same work inappropriately to multiple categories (check requirements)