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Anil's Ghost

By Michael Ondaatje
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Anil's Ghost by Michael Ondaatje is a breathtaking novel set in war-torn Sri Lanka, blending love, family, and identity. Anil Tissera, a forensic anthropologist born in Sri Lanka but educated in the West, returns to investigate mysterious bones found at an ancient site, only to uncover disturbing truths about recent civil war atrocities. The story explores the clash between the island's rich traditions and its violent present, driven by a compelling mystery that reveals the harsh realities behind the conflict.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3499
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This evocative novel is ideal for readers interested in literary fiction that intertwines personal and political themes, especially those fascinated by history, human rights, and complex narratives about identity and conflict.

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Transports us to Sri Lanka, a country steeped in centuries of tradition, now forced into the late twentieth century by the ravages of a bloody civil war.

From the author of The English Patient and Running in the Family, a breathtaking novel about love and the horrors of civil war.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

From the author of The English Patient and Running in the Family, a breathtaking novel about love and the horrors of civil war.

Anil's Ghost transports us to Sri Lanka, a country steeped in centuries of tradition, now forced into the late twentieth century by the ravages of a bloody civil war.

Enter Anil Tissera, a young woman and forensic anthropologist born in Sri Lanka but educated in the West, sent by an international human rights group to identify the victims of the murder campaigns sweeping the island.

When Anil discovers that the bones found in an ancient burial site are in fact those of a much more recent victim, her search for the terrible truth hidden in her homeland begins. What follows is a story about love, about family, about identity — a story driven by a riveting mystery.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Critics hail Anil's Ghost as a rare triumph that astonishes and disturbs, with the Guardian praising its density and depth. The Independent calls it a reason to read and value literature, likening it to a holy text. The Sunday Times commends Ondaatje's skill in melding barbarity and civilisation's splendours, while the New York Times Book Review notes his beautiful use of magic to manifest his country's bloodshed. Renowned author Ariel Dorfman describes it as a truly wondrous work, matching Ondaatje's finest achievements.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780099554455

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 September 2011

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 131.0mm

Height: 199.0mm

Weight: 236g

Pages: 320

Collections

Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Fiction General Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Michael Ondaatje Penguin Books

About the Author

Michael Ondaatje is the author of seven novels; a memoir, Running in the Family; a non-fiction book on film, The Conversations- Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film; and several books of poetry, including The Cinnamon Peeler and Handwriting. The English Patient received the Booker Prize in 1992 and the Golden Man Booker in 2018, and was made into a film directed by Anthony Minghella. Anil's Ghost was awarded the Irish Times International Fiction Prize, the Giller Prize and the Prix Medicis. Born in Sri Lanka, Michael Ondaatje lives in Toronto.

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