2/20/01

John Sanford, News Service (650) 736-2151; e-mail: jsanford@stanford.edu

Michael Ondaatje, author of The English Patient and Anil's Ghost, to visit campus

Writer and poet Michael Ondaatje, who won the Booker Prize in 1992 for his novel The English Patient, will read from his work at 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 26, in Kresge Auditorium. At 11 a.m. the next day, an informal colloquium with Ondaatje is scheduled for the Terrace Room of Margaret Jacks Hall (Building 460).

Both events, which are part of the Creative Writing Program's Jean and Bill Lane Lecture Series, are free and open to the public. Recently, the Lanes permanently endowed the lecture series.

A native of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Ondaatje, now 57, immigrated to Canada via England in 1962. His first published book was a collection of poetry called The Dainty Monsters (1967). His most recent collection of poetry, Handwriting, was published in 1999.

In addition to The English Patient, Ondaatje's five novels include Anil's Ghost, In the Skin of the Lion, Coming Through Slaughter and The Collected Works of Billy the Kid.

He lives in Toronto and teaches at York University.

For more information about the reading or colloquium, call (650) 725-1208.

-30-

By John Sanford