Michael Ondaatje is well known to Canadian readers of poetry and fiction and movie goers. Born in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), he immigrated to Canada in 1962 to attend Bishop’s University and the University of Toronto. He later taught at the University of Western Ontario and Glendon College at York University.

His work has attracted serious critical and popular attention since the release of The Collected Works of Billy the Kidd, which won the Governor General’s Award. Many of his novels have won important literary prizes including: The Booker Prize for The English Patient, which was also made into the Academy Award winning movie of 1997; the Irish Times International Fiction Prize and the Government General’s Award for Anil’s Ghost; and another Governor General’s Award for Divisadero.

The Collected Works of Billy the Kid, Coming Through Slaughter and Divisadero have been adapted for the stage and produced in theatrical productions across North America and Europe.

In 1988 Ondaatje was made an Officer of the Order of Canada which was upgraded in 2016 to Companion of the Order of Canada.

He has made a significant contribution to the development of up-and-coming writers through his long association with Coach House Books, where he acts as a poetry editor.

This is his second visit to The Port Medway Readers’ Festival. Michael will be reading from his newly released book Warlight.