A life in words

A love of literature has taken David Shriver in many unexpected directions.

David currently works for a communications firm and sits on the board for several acclaimed arts organisations. Here, he tells us how his passion for reading began and the tale of his eclectic career so far.

A new chapter at King’s

‘My parents always encouraged me to read. Nearly 50 years ago my father offered me £5 if I could read the whole of Gore Vidal’s blockbuster novel Burr in one weekend. I never looked back. 

‘It was King's that taught me respect for the written word and how to interrogate texts and critique them. My time at King’s set the trajectory of my life and I am grateful for everything I experienced in my four years on the Strand.

‘That includes not just two degrees, but also the life-long friendships I made, the skills I learned outside the classroom (including my time as captain of the fencing club) and all the growing up I did.’  

Embracing a plural life

‘Over the last 38 years, my career has taken me from London to Paris to Munich. It has also led me from investment banking to communications and reputation management.

‘These same skills have brought me to where I am now. I’ve embraced a ‘plural life’ as Senior Advisor at a global strategic communications firm (Kekst CNC), alongside board positions with a range of outstanding arts and culture organisations. These include Creative Folkestone and Wimbledon BookFest.’

A generous gift

‘An anonymous donation for a travel bursary, from a King’s alum, started a long love-affair with all things French in 1985. This allowed me to spend a summer in Paris, working for the Financial Times, fencing at the Le Cercle National des Armées, and discovering my ‘French self’. It was a transformative experience, and I owe a lot to that generous individual.’

A voracious reader

‘Today, I remain a voracious reader, typically finishing ten or more novels each month. Books keep me thinking, keep me learning, and keep me young.

‘It was King’s that gave me the inspiration and skills to make the most of my relationship with books. How wonderful it is, then, that so many of the writers I admire most themselves have a relationship with King’s: Maureen Duffy, Hanif Kureishi, Virginia Woolf and Thomas Hardy, to name just a few…’

Inspired by David’s story? Find out how giving a gift could shape someone’s King’s experience here.