Art and the Homeless

A Critical Review: The English Patient and the Ethics of Historical Erasure Subject: Michael Ondaatje’s The English Patient (1992) Context: The Development of The Rebecca Affair and the Ethics of Espionage Narrative To the reader of The English Patient, the experience is often one of immersion in a lush, atmospheric romance set against the backdrop of World War II. It is a high-brow example of the genre, winning the Booker Prize and captivating audiences with its fragmented, dreamlike structure. However, for the author looking at the story anew, and for any writer attempting to navigate the treacherous waters of historical espionage, Ondaatje’s novel serves as a cautionary tale—a prime example of how not to write when the goal is to expose the systemic rot of colonialism and the truth of human behavior. The Contradiction of "Truth by Lying" Ondaatje’s central thesis is "truth by lying"—the idea that strict historical accuracy stifles emotional resonance. He argues t...

Chapter 17   The ship was a Liberty vessel, the kind of American workhorse that had become the backbone of the Allied supply line. It was bulky, utilitarian, painted a dull, non-reflective grey; in other words, not a pretty cruise ship. It had no plush lounges or grand staircases; the Civilian Section was open deck forward of the smokestacks, lined with rows of folding canvas chairs and small tables bolted to the steel floor. It smelled of diesel fumes, salt spray, and the faint, oily taste of the sea. Gertie found an unoccupied chair near the starboard railing. She dropped her canvas shoulder bag—Brigid’s gift—and her duffel beside it, the soft thud echoing slightly. She stood at the railing, gripping the cold metal, observing the harbor of Tunis.  A great, resonant horn blew, a deep, mournful sound that vibrated through her. Then came the rhythmic chugging of the engines, a steady, mechanical heartbeat that signaled the ship was underway.  The city’s white buildings blu...