Michael Ondaatje’s Early Work Reconsidered in New Yorker Essay
In an essay featured in The New Yorker, the author contemplates the early literary contributions of Michael Ondaatje, prompted by Clint Bentley's reference to Ondaatje’s 1970 publication, “The Collected Works of Billy the Kid.” The piece outlines Ondaatje’s migration from Sri Lanka to England and Canada, emphasizing his diverse heritage of Tamil, Dutch, and Sinhalese roots. Notably, his 1992 novel “The English Patient” garnered the Booker Prize and was later transformed into an Oscar-winning film in 1997. The essay also delves into Ondaatje’s previous works, such as “Coming Through Slaughter” (1976) and “Running in the Family” (1982), while discussing his Governor General’s Awards and innovative films, along with insights from bpNichol and his 2002 dialogue with Walter Murch in “The Conversations.”
Key facts
- Clint Bentley named Michael Ondaatje’s 1970 book “The Collected Works of Billy the Kid” as a favorite obscure book in a Times interview.
- Ondaatje’s novel “The English Patient” (1992) won the Booker Prize and was adapted into an Oscar-winning film by Anthony Minghella in 1997.
- Ondaatje was born in Sri Lanka to parents of Tamil, Dutch, and Sinhalese ancestry and later immigrated to England and Canada.
- The character Kirpal Singh in “The English Patient” is an Indian combat engineer who condemns the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
- Ondaatje’s early works include “The Collected Works of Billy the Kid” (1970), “Coming Through Slaughter” (1976), and “Running in the Family” (1982).
- Ondaatje was involved with Coach House Press and the literary magazine Brick in Ontario.
- Ondaatje won multiple Governor General’s Awards for both poetry and fiction.
- Ondaatje made experimental documentary films in the 1970s, including “The Clinton Special” (1974).
Entities
Artists
- Michael Ondaatje
- Clint Bentley
- Salman Rushdie
- Anthony Minghella
- Almásy
- Kirpal Singh
- Hana
- Billy the Kid (William H. Bonney)
- Gregory
- bpNichol
- Buddy Bolden
- Walter Murch
- Father Barnabus
Institutions
- The New Yorker
- The Times
- Booker Prize
- Oscar
- Coach House Press
- Brick
- Theatre Passe Muraille
- Governor General’s Award
- St. Thomas’ College Boy School
Locations
- Sri Lanka
- England
- Quebec
- London
- Ontario
- Toronto
- New Orleans
- Italy
- Hiroshima
- Nagasaki
- India
- Canada
- United States