Michael Ondaatje

Born in Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) of Dutch/Indian ancestry, in 1954 he moved to England with his mother. After relocating to Canada in 1962, he became a Canadian citizen. Ondaatje received his BA from the University of Toronto and his MA from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.

Although he is best known as a novelist, Ondaatje's work also encompasses memoir, poetry, and film. Besides his memoir of his childhood, Running in the Family, and his Governor General's Award winning book of poetry, There's a Trick With a Knife he is known for four works of fiction:

1. The English Patient -- winner of the Booker Prize, the Canada Australia Prize, and the Canada Governor General's Award and later made into a motion picture, winning the Academy Award for Best Picture.
2. In the Skin of the Lion[?]
3. Coming Through Slaughter[?] -- a fictional story of New Orleans, Louisiana about 1900 very loosely based on jazz pioneer Buddy Bolden.
4. Anil's Ghost[?] -- winner of the 2000 Giller Prize and Canada Governor General's Award.

Further reading Barbour, Douglas. Michael Ondaatje. ISBN 0805782907