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Organisers of the Man Asian Literary Prize have defended its move to include novels written or translated into English, by saying it enables readers around the world to "immediately buy and enjoy" the novels.
Earlier this year, http://www.thebookseller.com/news/114362-man-asian-booker-turns-focus-on... target="_blank">organisers revealed it was restructuring the award, which previously had only gone to books not yet published in English. The prize money was also trebled from $10,000 (£6,500) to $30,000.
But the changes were greeted with concern from some quarters. Books blog Literary Saloon warned it wouldhttp://www.complete-review.com/saloon/archive/201003a.htm#qx8" target="_blank"> direct attention to countries with more established links with the western publishing world, at the expense of others.
In a statement released last week, the organisers acknowledged the change was "highly significant".
But it said: "One of the main reasons for the change is so that readers around the world can immediately buy and enjoy the long- and short-listed novels from which the judges will be picking the winner. Previously, as in the case with the brilliant winner of the 2008 prize, Filipino writer Miguel Syjuco’s Ilustrado, readers have had to wait up to eighteen months for the pleasure.
"Authors, booksellers and publishers like literary prizes because they can help to sell books and to create new “names” and identities. But prizes can be equally important for ordinary readers. From their point of view prize-listed books become common points of reference in a public conversation in which they can also participate with family, friends and colleagues. It would be hard to exaggerate the importance of this phenomenon, where it exists, in maintaining the vitality of a literary culture."
The group added: "Such a conversation is well established within the UK, Ireland and the Commonwealth thanks to prizes such as the Man Booker. One of the aspirations of the MALP is to create the common points of reference needed for such a conversation to begin among the diverse and dynamic cultures of Asia."
The prize is now open for submissions from publishers - up to two per publisher - and the deadline is 31st August. The long-list will be announced in December 2010, the short-list in February 2011 and the prize will be awarded at a ceremony in Hong Kong in March 2011.