The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje mesmerizes with its poetic prose and intricate narrative structure, weaving complex characters and historical settings. Praised for its lyrical beauty and depth, some find its nonlinear storytelling and pacing challenging. Nonetheless, it stands out for its emotional resonance and evocative imagery.

A reader who enjoys The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje likely appreciates historical fiction, poetic prose, and complex character studies. Fans of Atonement by Ian McEwan or All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, which blend World War II settings with deeply personal narratives, would find this book compelling.

The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje is a historical romance novel set in an Italian monastery at the end of World War II, exploring the intersecting lives of a Canadian nurse named Hana, a presumed English patient burnt beyond recognition, a morphine-addicted thief named Caravaggio, and an Indian bomb defuser named Kip. Sensitive topics including drug use, fire injury, war violence, and suicide are depicted.

Melancholic / Contemplative / Mysterious / Bittersweet / Emotional

- The English Patient won the Booker Prize in 1992 and was later awarded the Golden Booker Prize in 2018, which commemorated the best work of fiction from the last five decades of the Booker Prize.
- The novel is known for its poetic narrative style, which reflects author Michael Ondaatje's background as a poet before he became a novelist.
- The English Patient was adapted into a highly successful film in 1996, which won nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

**Almásy**  
A crucial character whose identity is a mystery due to amnesia, often referred to as the English patient, he is cared for by Hana at the Villa San Girolamo. His love for the desert and possession of Herodotus’s Histories are notable aspects of his character.

**Hana**  
A 20-year-old Canadian nurse who remains at the Villa San Girolamo to care for the English patient after the Liberation of Italy. She is deeply affected by the war and struggles with personal trauma while dedicating herself to nursing.

**Kirpal “Kip” Singh**  
An Indian Sikh sapper in the British Army who becomes a resident at the villa, known for his expertise in bomb disposal. He develops a close relationship with Hana during his time there.

**Caravaggio**  
An Italian immigrant to Canada and a professional thief who fought in the war for the Allies, he shares a past connection with Hana. Caravaggio arrives at the villa with his own experiences of suffering and forms relationships with other residents, including the English patient.

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