Title: The English Patient
Author: Michael Ondaatje
First published September 1, 1992
320 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780771068713 (ISBN10: 0771068719)
Rating: 3.87
Overview
In Michael Ondaatje’s award-winning novel, The English Patient, the lives of four individuals collide in an Italian villa in the aftermath of World War II. Hana, a nurse worn out from the war, Caravaggio, a thief scarred from his past, and Kip, a cautious sapper, all grapple with the mystery of the English patient – a nameless, badly burned man whose recollections of love, deceit, and salvation electrify the pages of this novel like bolts of lightning.
Ondaatje’s vivid prose and poignant storytelling will leave you captivated until the very end.
About the Author
Michael Ondaatje was born into a Burgher family with a blend of Dutch, Tamil, Sinhalese, and Portuguese heritage. In 1954, he relocated with his mother to England before moving again to Canada in 1962 and eventually became a Canadian citizen.
Ondaatje attended Bishops College School and Bishop’s University for a while in Quebec, but he later moved to Toronto where he obtained his BA from the University of Toronto and his MA from Queen’s University in Ontario. He began teaching at the University of Western Ontario, but eventually settled in Toronto in 1970.
From 1971 to 1988, he taught English Literature at York University and Glendon College.
Ondaatje and his wife, Linda Spalding, who is a novelist and academic, co-edit Brick, A Literary Journal, with Michael Redhill, Michael Helm, and Esta Spalding. Although he is widely known as a novelist, Ondaatje’s portfolio also includes memoir, poetry, and film.
Since the 1960s, Ondaatje has been an active member of Toronto’s influential Coach House Books, supporting the independent small press by serving as a poetry editor. In 1988, Ondaatje was named an Officer of the Order of Canada (OC), and two years later, he became a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
He has two children and is the brother of philanthropist, businessman, and author Christopher Ondaatje.
In 1992, Ondaatje received the Man Booker Prize for his novel, which was later adapted into an Academy-Award-winning film.
Editoral Review
In “The English Patient” by Michael Ondaatje, readers are transported to the Italian countryside during World War II. Published in 1992, the novel is considered a classic of contemporary literature and has won numerous awards, including the Booker Prize.
Ondaatje, a Canadian novelist and poet, is known for his lyrical writing style and his ability to evoke powerful emotions through vivid descriptions and complex characters. “The English Patient” is no exception, as it weaves together the stories of four individuals whose lives intersect in unexpected ways.
The novel centers around the titular character, a severely burned man who is being cared for by a young nurse named Hana in a dilapidated villa. The English patient, as he is known, is later revealed to be a Hungarian count and explorer.
Through a series of flashbacks, the reader learns about his past, which is intertwined with the lives of two other characters: Caravaggio, a thief and former spy, and Kip, an Indian sapper who has been assigned to clear the area of unexploded bombs. At its core, “The English Patient” is a story about love, loss, identity, and survival.
It explores the complexities of human relationships and the ways in which individuals are shaped by their experiences and environments. The novel is also notable for its exploration of colonialism and cultural appropriation, especially through the character of the English patient, who is fascinated by the Middle East and its history.
Ondaatje’s writing is stunningly beautiful, with poetic language that creates a dreamlike atmosphere. The characters are fully realized and multidimensional, with compelling backstories and motivations.
The plot is nonlinear, with flashbacks and multiple perspectives that add layers of complexity to the story. The setting, too, is meticulously researched and vividly depicted, making the reader feel as though they are right there in the Italian countryside with the characters.
However, some readers may find the nonlinear structure and shifting perspectives confusing or disorienting, and the novel’s themes can be heavy and thought-provoking. Additionally, the English patient’s appropriation of Middle Eastern culture has been criticized by some as problematic.
Despite these flaws, “The English Patient” is a masterpiece of contemporary literature that is well worth the read. Fans of historical fiction, literary fiction, and character-driven stories will find much to love in this novel.
Overall, I give “The English Patient” four out of five stars, with a recommendation to anyone looking for a richly imagined, gorgeously written tale of love and loss in wartime Italy.
