Yann Martel out that he could not have stolen from a work he had not at the time read, and he willingly acknowledged being influenced by the New York Times review of Scliar's work and thanked him in the Author's Note of Life of Pi. "Life of Pi" was later chosen for the 2003 edition of CBC Radio's "Canada Reads" competition, where it was championed by author Nancy Lee. In addition, its French translation, "Histoire de Pi", was included in the French version of the competition, "Le combat des livres", in 2004, championed by singer Louise Forestier. Martel was the Samuel Fischer
Richard Parker (judge) Richard Parker (judge) Richard Parker (1729–1813) was a prominent American lawyer and judge from Westmoreland County, Virginia in the Northern Neck. His father was Dr. Alexander Parker, a prominent physician of Essex County, Virginia. He married Elizabeth Beale, daughter of William Beale. He was a member of the Westmoreland County Committee of Safety in 1775 and represented that county in the House of Delegates in 1778. He was appointed a judge of the general court in January 1788, in which capacity he also briefly served on the first Court of Appeals. He remained on the bench of the General Court