49 pages • 1 hour read
Anil's Ghost
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
320
Novel • Fiction
Sri Lanka • 1980s-1990s
2000
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In Anil’s Ghost, Michael Ondaatje explores the trauma of the Sri Lankan civil war of the 1980s and 1990s. Anil Tissera, a forensic pathologist working with human rights organizations, returns to Sri Lanka after 15 years. Tasked with investigating government-sponsored violence, Anil and her team discover a recently murdered body at a sixth-century burial site. They reconstruct the victim's face to identify him, which provokes government anger. Sensitive topics in the book include trauma and death by suicide.
Mysterious
Dark
Contemplative
Emotional
Melancholic
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Michael Ondaatje's Anil's Ghost receives praise for its poetic prose, evocative imagery, and deep historical insights into Sri Lanka's civil conflict. Reviewers commend the nuanced characters and intricate narrative; however, some find its pace slow and the structure disjointed. Despite this, its emotional depth and vivid storytelling stand out.
Who Should Read Anil's Ghost?
Readers who appreciate Anil's Ghost by Michael Ondaatje are typically drawn to richly layered narratives exploring identity, truth, and history. Fans of The English Patient by Ondaatje or Atonement by Ian McEwan will enjoy the profound human experiences and ethical dilemmas presented in a war-torn Sri Lanka.
Sarath Diyasena
Sarath Diyasena
An archeologist who partners with Anil in her investigation into the civil war. His life is deeply affected by the war and government corruption, and he cautiously navigates the dangerous political landscape.
Gamini Diyasena
Gamini Diyasena
Sarath's younger brother and a dedicated doctor who immerses himself in his work amidst the chaos and violence of the civil war. His complex relationship with Sarath and his own internal struggles are revealed throughout the story.
320
Novel • Fiction
Sri Lanka • 1980s-1990s
2000
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.