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The English Patient

"The English Patient" is a novel by Michael Ondaatje set during World War II in an Italian villa, focusing on the intertwined lives of four characters: a severely burned English man, a Canadian nurse, an Indian sapper, and an Italian runaway. Through fragmented memories, the story explores themes of love, loss, identity, and the impact of war. The English patient, whose true identity unfolds gradually, shares his past as a passionate romantic and a spy. The narrative masterfully weaves historical events with personal stories, reflecting on the complexities of human relationships in the face of conflict.

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  • Image for The English Patient

    "The English Patient" is a novel by Michael Ondaatje, set during World War II. It tells the intertwined stories of four characters in an Italian villa: a severely burned man known as the English patient, a Canadian nurse named Hana, a Sikh sapper named Kip, and an Italian-Canadian thief named Kip’s love interest. As they navigate the aftermath of war, themes of love, loss, and identity unfold, primarily through the patient’s memories of his tragic romance and his mysterious past. The novel explores how war impacts personal relationships and the search for healing.