2008 Man Asian Literary Prize

Video clip featuring the 2007 shortlisted authors (approx. 5 minutes)

Produced by Gauri Narain, email: gauri@netvigator.com

What the authors say

Asia is home to ancient and important cultural traditions... The region is a cradle of culture that is unrivalled around the world, begetting in turn future generations of culture and creativity. Now, with the establishment of the Man Asian Literary Prize, it is able to draw upon richly creative resources, and play a crucial role in supporting cultural exchange around the world.

---- Jiang Rong (Wolf Totem), winner of the 2007 Man Asian Literary Prize

My fellow "shortlistees" and I ... derive pride and comfort from the fact that, aside from the very warm reception extended by our hosts, the judges, the sponsors, and the Hong Kong literary community, we received many inquiries from publishers and agents eager to publish our work for broader audiences beyond Asia. Thus, this has been a great breakthrough for all our literatures and writers, and we look forward to being followed by our compatriots in this exciting new annual competition... It's been a great ride.

---- Jose Dalisay Jr (Soledad's Sister), shortlisted for the 2007 Man Asian Literary Prize

Since I made the short list three publishers have called my agent - one from New York, one from London and one from Australia.

---- Xu Xi (Habit of a Foreign Sky), shortlisted for the 2007 Man Asian Literary Prize, quoted in the International Herald Tribune

You have helped me and so many others like me to... resurrect our faith in our own work... This Prize is a grand idea, and once again my congratulations to you for coming up with the idea.

---- Sanjiv Bhatla (InJustice), longlisted for the 2007 Man Asian Literary Prize

It was a great feeling to have been part of the entire process. I feel Man has done a great service to the world of Asian writing in English and wish the prize great success in the years to come.

---- Sanjay Bahadur (The Sound Of Water), longlisted for the 2007 Man Asian Literary Prize

You have created a window of opportunity for writers in Asia.

---- Shreekumar Varma (Maria's Room), longlisted for the 2007 Man Asian Literary Prize