Michael Ondaatje
Michael Ondaatje was born on September 12, 1943 in Colombo,
Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). The son of Mervyn Ondaatje and Doris
Gratiaen, prominent members among the inhabitants of what
once comprised Ceylon's colonial society. Mervyn Ondaatje
was a tea and rubber-plantation superintendent who was
afflicted with alcoholism. Doris Gratiaen performed
part-time as a radical dancer, inspired by Isadora Duncan.
As a result of his father's alcoholism, Ondaatje's parents
eventually separated in 1954 and he moved to England with
his mother. Ondaatje was educated initially at St. Thomas College in
Colombo, Ceylon. After moving with his mother to England, he
continued his education at Dulwich College in London.
Between 1962-64, Ondaatje attended Bishop's University in
Lennoxville, Quebec. He then went on to obtain his B.A. at
the University of Toronto in 1965, and his M.A. at Queen's
University, in Kingston, Ontario, in 1967. Ondaatje began
his teaching career at the University of Western Ontario,
London between 1967-71. Today he is a member of the
Department of English at Glendon College, York University in
Toronto, Ontario, a position he has held since 1971. Ondaatje currently resides in Toronto with his wife,
novelist/editor Linda Spalding, where they edit
Literary Magazine. During his career Ondaatje
has received numerous awards and honors. He was awarded the
Ralph Gustafson Award, 1965; the Epstein Award, 1966; and
the President's Medal from the University of Ontario in
1967. In addition, Ondaatje was the recipient of the
Canadian Governor-General's Award for Literature in 1971 and
again in 1980. Also in 1980 he was awarded the
Canada-Australia price and in 1992 he was presented with the
Booker McConnell Prize for his novel THE ENGLISH PATIENT.
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Series
Books:Warlight, May 2018
Hardcover / e-Book
The Cat's Table, October 2011
Hardcover
Divisadero, June 2007
Hardcover
The Story, March 2006
Hardcover
The Conversations, October 2004
Paperback
In the Skin of a Lion, January 1997
Paperback
Running in the Family, December 1993
Paperback
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