Nam Le, a Vietnamese-born Australian writer, earned significant acclaim for his book The Boat, a collection of short stories, which won him the prestigious Dylan Thomas Prize. His literary prowess is recognized through his contributions to various esteemed publications such as Best Australian Stories 2007, Best New American Voices, Zoetrope: All-Story, A Public Space, and One Story. In 2008, Nam Le was honored as a 5 under 35 honoree by the National Book Foundation.

Nam Le's journey from Vietnam to Australia began when he was less than a year old, arriving as a boat refugee with his parents. He pursued his education at Melbourne Grammar School and the University of Melbourne, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts with Honors and a Bachelor of Laws with Honors. Under the mentorship of Australian poet Chris Wallace-Crabbe, he developed his writing skills. Although he initially embarked on a career in corporate law and was admitted to the Supreme Court of Victoria around 2003/2004, his passion for writing prompted a shift in his career trajectory.

In 2004, Nam Le attended the Iowa Writers' Workshop in the United States, where he acquired a Masters in Creative Writing. He went on to serve as a fiction editor at the Harvard Review. His debut short story was published in Zoetrope in 2006. Thanks to his talent, Nam Le has been afforded fellowships at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, marking a significant contribution to the world of literature.