Chinese author Jiang Rong, born in Jiangsu in 1946. is the first winner of the Man Asian Literary Prize for his best-selling novel "The Wolf Totem." The $100,000 literary award is newly established to recognize the region's best literature that has not yet been published in English. The annual prize is being sponsored by the London-based financial services company Man Group.
Jiang's "Wolf Totem," first published in Chinese, is about the struggle of life during the 1966-76 Cultural Revolution and draws on Jiang's personal experience in the Mongolian grasslands. The English edition of the book is scheduled for publication in March next year.
The Beijing-based writer was not able to receive the award in person at a ceremony held in Hong Kong Novemver 10 because of illness. But in a statement, Jiang said he was thrilled and honored that his Chinese story caught the attention of the judges.
The four other writers shortlisted for the prize were Xu Xi of Hong Kong, Jose Dalisay Jr. of the Philippines, Indian author Reeti Gadekar, and Nu Nu Yi Inwa from Myanmar. (Source: San Francisco Chronicle, Nov 11, 2007)