The Last Colonial by Christopher Ondaatje
An autobiography in essays that conjures up a truly unique portrait of a world that is fast disappearing. Christopher Ondaatje is a true child of the British Empire. Born in Ceylon in 1933 and brought up on a tea plantation, he was sent as a teenager to boarding school in England. But soon after Ceylon was granted its independence in 1948, his family found themselves destitute, and the young Ondaatje left school and got a job. From these beginnings there forllowed a series of commercial triumphs until 1988 when he abruptly abandoned high finance at the peak of his career and reinvented himself as an explorer and an author, focusing mainly on the colonial period. It is the curious encounters behind these often precarious adventures that make up this book. The stories tell of Ondaatje's childhood days, his early life in Canada, his fascination with inexplicable events and local superstitions, and sometimes perilous travels researching his acclaimed biographies. Illustrated throughout with original images by Ana Maria Pacheco, The Last Colonial lives up to the romance of its tantalizing title.
'An absolutely captivating read, made even more special by the enigmatic and disturbing images provided by Ana Maria Pacheco’s paintings' - We Love This Book
'A summing up of his life to date and his earlier writings … handsomely published … [Ondaatje has] a taut, chiseled writing style … aptly complemented by the brilliant, surreal illustrations' - The Historian
'Christopher Ondaatje has crammed a lot into his 78 years … his clean, clear prose glints with myths, monsters, mischief and murder' - Wanderlust
'Exhilarating collection of travelling tales.. offer an evocative portrait of the late-colonial era, interwoven with beautiful illustrations ... Not only the geographical landscapes intrigue, but the landscapes of the human mind and heart which Ondaatje charts in moving details' - Independent
'A summing up of his life to date and his earlier writings … handsomely published … [Ondaatje has] a taut, chiseled writing style … aptly complemented by the brilliant, surreal illustrations' - The Historian
'Christopher Ondaatje has crammed a lot into his 78 years … his clean, clear prose glints with myths, monsters, mischief and murder' - Wanderlust
'Exhilarating collection of travelling tales.. offer an evocative portrait of the late-colonial era, interwoven with beautiful illustrations ... Not only the geographical landscapes intrigue, but the landscapes of the human mind and heart which Ondaatje charts in moving details' - Independent
Sir Christopher Ondaatje was born in Sri Lanka, educated in England and built a highly successful career in finance and publishing in Canada. In 1988 he sold all his business interests and has since then devoted his time to literature, philanthropy and travel.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780500251867 |
| ISBN 10 | 050025186X |
| Title | The Last Colonial |
| Author | Christopher Ondaatje |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Thames & Hudson Ltd |
| Year published | 2011-09-12 |
| Number of pages | 256 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |