Michael Ondaatje has published 8 novels, 1 short story collection, 1 non-fiction book, 8 poetry collections and 1 other book, beginning with Coming Through Slaughter (1976). The best-known is The English Patient (1992). The latest is Warlight (2018).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Michael Ondaatje
Start here
The English Patient
Michael Ondaatje's most-read book.
Shortest way in
In the Skin of a Lion
One of the most-read, at about 245 pages.
Newest
Warlight
Published 2018.
Standalone novels in order
Coming Through Slaughter (1976)
In the Skin of a Lion (1987)
The English Patient (Sep 1992)
Anil's Ghost (Mar 2000)
The Conversations (2002)
Divisadero (Apr 2007)
The Cat's Table (Oct 2011)
Warlight (2018)
Short story collections in order
From Ink Lake (1990)
Non-fiction in order
Running in the Family (1982)
Poetry in order
The Dainty Monsters (1972)
Rat Jelly (1973)
Elimination Dance (1978)
There's a Trick with a Knife I'm Learning to Do (1979)
Secular Love (1984)
The Cinnamon Peeler (1991)
Handwriting (1998)
The Distance of a Shout: Selected Poems
Other books in order
A Year of Last Things
Film and TV adaptations
- The English Patient (1996)Film · from The English Patient
About Michael Ondaatje
Philip Michael Ondaatje is a Sri Lankan-born Canadian poet, fiction writer and essayist.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Michael Ondaatje FAQ
- How many books has Michael Ondaatje written?
- Michael Ondaatje has published 8 novels, 1 short story collection, 1 non-fiction book, 8 poetry collections and 1 other book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Michael Ondaatje's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The English Patient.
- What is Michael Ondaatje's latest book?
- Warlight (2018).
- What is Michael Ondaatje's most famous book?
- The English Patient (1992) is Michael Ondaatje's most widely read book.
- Which Michael Ondaatje books have been adapted?
- 1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including The English Patient (film, 1996).
Authors like Michael Ondaatje
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.