Kealey: The English Patient

Kealey Zaumseil

English Patient Book Report

January 12^th, 2014

            Written in 1992 by Michael Ondaatje, the novel The English Patient incorporates several themes intertwined in eloquent writing. The novel takes place during the downfall of World War II in an abandoned villa located in Tuscany, Italy. The villa was once used as a hospital for wounded soldiers, but as the war fizzles out and the town becomes unsafe from hidden German bombs, most patients and nurses flee. Hana, the exception, stays to tend a patient who has been burned beyond recognitions and cannot be moved. This patient becomes known as The English Patient. Earlier, he had been brought to the villa by a Bedouin tribe who had pulled him out of fallen plan, which was engulfed in flames. When the English Patient awakes, he cannot remember his name or his past. His only belonging is a copy of Herodotus's, which he had turned into his own personal scarp book. Throughout the novel Hana tends to him and patiently waits as his memory comes back and he is able share stories from his former life.  During this time, Caravaggio, a Canadian who has become a British Spy, appears at the villa claiming he knows Hana. While this is true; he has alterative motives evolving the English Patient. Kip, a man from India who defuses bombs for the British, also makes his way to the villa. He soon sets up camp in the front yard for the duration of his stay. As the novel progresses, The English patient reveals more about his past and the reader learns he was a mapmaker for the Northern deserts of Africa. Stories of his former relationships are also revealed and his mysterious past starts to unravel.

            The English Patient is truly one of the most beautiful written novels I have ever read. Even through the faster pace sections of the novel, the writing is continuously graceful. At times, the story seems almost poetic. Following which tense the book was in presented itself as a challenge at first. Not only does the novel switch between points of views of each individual character, it also goes between present and past tense without any indications. Once I had realized these changes, and were able to pick up on them more quickly, I started to appreciate the story and meaning. Through this writing style, Ondaatje was able to clearly highlight themes such as tragedy and passion. It also enabled the reader to have more insight on each character. By doing this, the reader gains a larger picture, rather than just one side of the story.

            As far as recommendations go, I would strongly suggest it to any reader who is interested in extremely well written novels and can handle a slower pace read. The mystery of the English Patients past unfolds at a slower pace than expected. As for myself, I highly enjoyed the writing, but at times found myself unmotivated to continue reading. This could be due to the fact that being so young, I could not relate to many of the major themes such as love and tragedy. When I’m older I’ll read it again, in hopes of connecting with the characters more and being able to appreciating the love stories and the pain of losing someone.