The Royal Danish Library (Det Kgl. Bibliotek), Denmark's national library and one of Scandinavia's foremost cultural and research institutions, has acquired Zoé Mahfouz's debut short story collection, ADHD in D Minor, for its collections. With holdings exceeding 40 million items, the library is regularly ranked among the world's largest, with some international collection-size rankings placing it around ninth or tenth worldwide. The acquisition represents a notable achievement for a French author writing in English, as the book crosses borders to join an institution entrusted with preserving and providing access to Denmark's cultural heritage alongside an extensive body of international literature.
Written in English by Mahfouz, who is based in France, ADHD in D Minor is an unconventional, humour-driven collection that combines sketches, monologues, manifestos, character studies, and observations on contemporary life. Drawing on the rhythms of television, sharp satire, and an irreverent narrative voice, the book challenges traditional literary structures. It has been nominated for the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize for Debut Short Story Collection and has already been added to international library collections, including those of Brown University in the USA, the University of Helsinki in Finland, and University College Cork in Ireland. Its readership extends beyond academia: the collection is also held at the Mars Desert Research Station in the USA and in the onboard libraries of Scripps Institution of Oceanography research vessels.
For Mahfouz, the acquisition carries particular meaning. "Written by a French author based in France, ADHD in D Minor now forms part of Denmark's national library collections," the author noted, adding that the occasion resonates with the Royal Danish Library's guiding motto, "Vi viser vej til viden i et samfund i forandring" — "We show the way to knowledge in a changing society." The book, published by North Meridian Press in 2026, is available for purchase via https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GZH5T4N3.
The acquisition underscores the growing international reach of independent literary voices. North Meridian Press, an independent humanities publishing initiative based in Northeast Alabama, established in 2019, publishes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and translation with a commitment to distinctive literary voices and works that might otherwise find limited opportunities within traditional publishing. The press encompasses The North Meridian Review, an interdisciplinary journal of culture and scholarship, and North Meridian Books, its book publishing imprint. Writer- and artist-led, North Meridian Press aims to foster sustained intellectual, artistic, and cultural dialogue while championing independent literary expression.
Mahfouz is an award-winning French actress, content creator, screenwriter, and writer whose work spans fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. She holds a Master's degree in Screenwriting from the London Film School and has received international film festival recognition for her comedy screenplays. Her work has appeared in over 90 journals worldwide, with pieces translated and anthologized in Japanese publications, notably Ginyu and The Asahi Shimbun. Her published work is held in the collections of Harvard, Yale, and Stanford University Libraries. ADHD in D Minor has been praised by Kirkus Reviews for a narrative voice that is "sharp, caustic, and hyper-attuned to the cadences of modern clap-backs and viral tweets." The addition of her collection to the Royal Danish Library further solidifies her place in contemporary literature and highlights the global appetite for innovative, genre-defying writing.
