A lifelong love of literature

Under executive director David Parker, the Man Asian Literary Prize has evolved into the most sought-after award of its kind in the region.

It has also evolved from an award for an unpublished manuscript into one for a published novel. One of the reasons for the change was to engage readers in the process. People around the world can now buy the books and read them before a winner is crowned.

"The prize gives recognition to the writers - a recognition that's significantly different from being recognised in their own country," says Parker, also a professor at the Chinese University's English department. "It's recognition that is regional, right across the whole breadth of Asia, which is half of humanity when you think about it. We're giving global recognition to Asian writing."

The shortlist for the 2012 prize will be announced on January 9.

Parker's love affair with literature began at a young age. Born in Adelaide, Australia, he showed a great aptitude for writing in elementary school. "All my life I've been writing in one way or another," he says. "I've generally kept a diary - diary's probably not the right word - some sort of intellectual notebook where I just put down my thoughts, things that have happened to me. It's always been a way of reflecting on my experience."

In secondary school, he won an award for his poetry, which cemented his career path. "It gave me the feeling that this really was who I am, that I was really a writer," he says. "In those days, I thought of myself as a poet."

After completing his bachelor's degree in English and history, he received a scholarship to pursue a doctorate in English at Oxford University. An appointment by the Australian National University followed. "At that stage I was very much invested in my academic career as a literary critic and scholar. But during the first few years while I was an academic, literary theory began to break upon the scene in a powerful way," Parker recalls.