'English Patient' Author Michael Ondaatje Receives 2016 Literary Award

A diverse audience of more than 300 gathered Thursday, Oct. 6, in the Wool Ballroom at Busch Student Center to see celebrated author Michael Ondaatje receive the 2016 St. Louis Literary Award.

One of the world's foremost writers and best-known novelists, Ondaatje has penned poetry, memoir and film. His transcendent novel The English Patient was made into a film, which garnered multiple Academy Awards, including the Oscar for Best Picture in 1997.

Among his other works are The Cat’s Table, Divisadero and In the Skin of a Lion. Ondaatje’s collections of poetry include Secular Love, The Cinnamon Peeler and Handwriting. He has also made two documentary films, Sons of Captain Poetry and The Clinton Special.

University President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., welcomed assembled guests with an award program featuring an address by Ondaatje, an interactive author Q&A with the Nine Network's Patrick Murphy and the presentation of the Walter J. Ong, S.J. Award to the outstanding graduate student in the Department of English, Heather Bozant Witcher.

Conferred annually by the Saint Louis University Library Associates, the Literary Award celebrates the greatest writers of our time while building support for SLU campus libraries and their outstanding collections and services.

"For five decades, the St. Louis Literary Award has recognized true masters of the written word, sharing this wonderful civic asset with the campus community and beyond -- to all those who cherish literature, the arts and culture," said David Cassens, dean of University Libraries.

The list of awardees of this prize reflects numerous Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners and National Book Award recipients.

The St. Louis Literary Award is now known as one of the top literary prizes in the country. View the full list of awardees.

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