Michael Ondaatje’s Followers (4,215)

Michael Ondaatje

Born

in Colombo, Ceylon

September 12, 1943

Genre

Fiction, Historical Fiction, Poetry

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Philip Michael Ondaatje is a Sri Lankan-born Canadian poet, fiction writer, and essayist, renowned for his contributions to both poetry and prose. He was born in Colombo in 1943, to a family of Tamil and Burgher descent. Ondaatje emigrated to Canada in 1962, where he pursued his education, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto and a Master of Arts from Queen's University.
Ondaatje’s literary career began in 1967 with his poetry collection The Dainty Monsters, followed by his celebrated The Collected Works of Billy the Kid in 1970. His poetry earned him numerous accolades, including the Governor General’s Award for his collection There's a Trick with a Knife I'm Learning to Do: Poems 1973–1978 in 1979. He publishe Philip Michael Ondaatje is a Sri Lankan-born Canadian poet, fiction writer, and essayist, renowned for his contributions to both poetry and prose. He was born in Colombo in 1943, to a family of Tamil and Burgher descent. Ondaatje emigrated to Canada in 1962, where he pursued his education, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto and a Master of Arts from Queen's University.
Ondaatje’s literary career began in 1967 with his poetry collection The Dainty Monsters, followed by his celebrated The Collected Works of Billy the Kid in 1970. His poetry earned him numerous accolades, including the Governor General’s Award for his collection There's a Trick with a Knife I'm Learning to Do: Poems 1973–1978 in 1979. He published 13 books of poetry, exploring diverse themes and poetic forms.
In 1992, Ondaatje gained international fame with the publication of his novel The English Patient, which won the Booker Prize and was later adapted into an Academy Award-winning film. His other notable works include In the Skin of a Lion (1987), Anil’s Ghost (2000), and Divisadero (2007), which won the Governor General’s Award. Ondaatje’s novel Warlight (2018) was longlisted for the Booker Prize.
Aside from his writing, Ondaatje has been influential in fostering Canadian literature. He served as an editor at Coach House Books, contributing to the promotion of new Canadian voices. He also co-edited Brick, A Literary Journal, and worked as a founding trustee of the Griffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry.
Ondaatje’s work spans various forms, including plays, documentaries, and essays. His 2002 book The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film earned him critical acclaim and won several awards. His plays have been adapted from his novels, including The Collected Works of Billy the Kid and Coming Through Slaughter.
Over his career, Ondaatje has been honored with several prestigious awards. He was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1988, upgraded to Companion in 2016, and received the Sri Lanka Ratna in 2005. In 2016, a new species of spider, Brignolia ondaatjei, was named in his honor.
Ondaatje’s personal life is also intertwined with his literary pursuits. He has been married to novelist Linda Spalding, and the couple co-edits Brick. He has two children from his first marriage and is the brother of philanthropist Sir Christopher Ondaatje. He was also involved in a public stand against the PEN American Center's decision to honor Charlie Hebdo in 2015, citing concerns about the publication's anti-Islamic content.
Ondaatje’s enduring influence on literature and his ability to blend personal history with universal themes in his writing continue to shape Canadian and world literature. ...more

Combine Editions
Michael Ondaatje’s books

Average rating: 3.77 · 295,067 ratings · 23,401 reviews · 123 distinct works • Similar authors

	The English Patient 3.86 avg rating — 138,932 ratings — published 1992 — 281 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Warlight 3.60 avg rating — 46,677 ratings — published 2018 — 89 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Cat's Table 3.62 avg rating — 27,372 ratings — published 2011 — 85 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	In the Skin of a Lion 3.84 avg rating — 19,206 ratings — published 1987 — 79 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Anil's Ghost 3.59 avg rating — 18,841 ratings — published 2000 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Divisadero 3.52 avg rating — 11,873 ratings — published 2007 — 82 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Running in the Family 3.83 avg rating — 9,895 ratings — published 1982 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Coming Through Slaughter 3.86 avg rating — 6,961 ratings — published 1976 — 69 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Collected Works of Billy the Kid 3.94 avg rating — 4,554 ratings — published 1970 — 39 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Cinnamon Peeler: Selected Poems 4.17 avg rating — 2,427 ratings — published 1989 — 18 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Polls

July 2017 New School Classic Poll

My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier, 1951, 352 pgs

45 votes, 13.1%

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers, 368 pgs, 1940

35 votes, 10.2%

Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie, 647 pgs, 1981

33 votes, 9.6%

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, 1967, 192 pgs

28 votes, 8.2%

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami, 1994, 607 pgs

27 votes, 7.9%

Cannery Row by John Steinbeck, 1945, 185 pgs

25 votes, 7.3%

The Godfather by Mario Puzo, 448 pgs, 1969

25 votes, 7.3%

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner, 1930, 267 pgs

23 votes, 6.7%

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole, 1980, 416 pgs

21 votes, 6.1%

Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood, 1996, 636 pgs

17 votes, 5.0%

The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje, 1992, 320

14 votes, 4.1%

The Master of Go by Yasunari Kawabata, 1954, 189 pgs

13 votes, 3.8%

Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis, 1946, 335 pgs

11 votes, 3.2%

The Sea Wolf by Jack London, 1904, 425 pgs

10 votes, 2.9%

Main Street by Sinclair Lewis, 1920, 454 pgs

9 votes, 2.6%

Independent People by Halldór Laxness, 482 pgs, 1934

4 votes, 1.2%

Creation by Gore Vidal, 1981, 574 pgs

3 votes, 0.9%

The Street by Ann Petry, 1946, 435

0 votes, 0.0%

343 total votes

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