- Paperback: 1408 pages
- Publisher: Abacus; New edition edition (11 Jan 1992)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0349103186
- ISBN-13: 978-0349103181
- Product Dimensions: 12.4 x 19.8 x 6.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 351,095 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Harlot's Ghost: A Novel
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Review
'Outstanding' - Salman Rushdie 'A magnificent achievement' - Guardian 'Compelling, unforgettable' - Observer
Product Description
Hugh Tremont Montague - code name HARLOT - is one of the grand old men of the CIA, a man obsessed and nearly - but not quite - the WASP patrician he seems to be. The narrator of Harlot's story is Harry Hubbard, whose famous father also belongs to the foudning generation of the CIA. Harry lives in the shadow of both men, but what he does not sense is the core of madness fromwhich Harlot's remarkable energies emanate, and the demons at the heart of American history...
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
One of the Big White Daddy of American fiction's panoramic, brick-sized novels, Harlot's Ghost is the story of the CIA from 1955-1963, as lived by one of its operatives, Harry Hubard, in the shadow of other key figures in the agency, especially his father, Cal Hubbard and Hugh Montague, the latter known as Harlot.
Harry is typical of the successful agent, having the elite credentials of the WASP, Ivy League background, working in an organisation that is ultimately self-serving and understandably paranoid, with a probing finger in every pie, be it shady regimes, military groups or the mafia.
The metaphor of the harlot shows how performing a role turns the CIA into a self-perpetuating fantasy world with no clear boundaries as to where its authentic identity really begins or ends.
Harlot's Ghost is impressive, not so much because of Mailer's apparently thorough analysis of the CIA, but rather because of Kittredge, Mailer's most believable female character to date. Once married to Montague and then later to Harry, she is working on a thesis concerning the duality of the mind. Admittedly this does sound pretentious and, particularly, outdated for a philosophical thesis. Still, it shows how ambiguity affects and infects those who seek to serve what Montague at one point characterises as "the mind of America". There is much to recommend here, most especially if you are already a fan of Mailer's fiction, though you will need to be prepared to wade occasionally.
Harry is typical of the successful agent, having the elite credentials of the WASP, Ivy League background, working in an organisation that is ultimately self-serving and understandably paranoid, with a probing finger in every pie, be it shady regimes, military groups or the mafia.
The metaphor of the harlot shows how performing a role turns the CIA into a self-perpetuating fantasy world with no clear boundaries as to where its authentic identity really begins or ends.
Harlot's Ghost is impressive, not so much because of Mailer's apparently thorough analysis of the CIA, but rather because of Kittredge, Mailer's most believable female character to date. Once married to Montague and then later to Harry, she is working on a thesis concerning the duality of the mind. Admittedly this does sound pretentious and, particularly, outdated for a philosophical thesis. Still, it shows how ambiguity affects and infects those who seek to serve what Montague at one point characterises as "the mind of America". There is much to recommend here, most especially if you are already a fan of Mailer's fiction, though you will need to be prepared to wade occasionally.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Harlot's Ghost is a fictional inside view of working for the CIA during the 1950s and early 1960s, up to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The story begins in the present day with the mysterious death of a senior CIA agent, Hugh Montague, "Harlot", now semi-retired, but a powerful figure during the period covered by the book. Was it murder or suicide? Or was the death faked? Our narrator is Herrick Hubbard, Harlot's godson, who has his own suspicions about the death, which are gradually revealed as he relates (in flashback) the story of his own career in as a junior CIA officer during the 1950s, and 1960s. Hubbard was destined for the CIA, as both his father and godfather are agents. Gradually Mailer builds up a picture of a successful young man, whose career will always to some extent be tainted by accusations of nepotism. Harlot is his sponsor and role model, who helps his godson to succeed in the CIA - but are his motives always as clear-cut as they seem?
In a couple of places I found my attention wandering, usually when one of the many sub-plots failed to interest me. Most of them though, are fascinating insights into how the CIA works, and into that period of American history, with intrigue and conspiracy everywhere. Although the book is ostensibly about Hubbard's early career, the real story is about Harlot, and by the end of the book the reader thinks they know the truth - but unfortunately this is only the beginning - what is Hubbard planning to do now? If this book has a flaw, it is that the end of it comes before the main plot is concluded - despite the fact that it is a very long book! It is still a great book as a stand-alone novel, but it will become an even more worthwhile read if Mailer completes the sequel.
Format:Paperback
Mailer died while writing book two of the planned Harlot's Ghost trilogy but the fact that it's an unfinished masterpiece doesn't stop it being a masterpiece. On the face of it the book is a spy novel but it's really an attempt at the Great American Novel. I'd say a very successful attempt, although others have disagreed.
Mailer really lets himself go with this one. It's hyper-real rather than realist, completely over the top and self indulgent, (Mailer appears to have sacked his editor and then taken a course on how to go off on tangents from Victor Hugo) but it's massive fun. Mailer clearly had great fun writing the book but it covers many serious subjects too and there is some explicit sexual content of an alternative nature. Many of Mailer's later books appear to cover the similar themes, sexuality, mistrust/paranioa, betrayal, the nature of relationships and reality. This book is no exception and to me it feels like a spiritual, though clearly not an actual, autobiography. Mailer was accused of trying to make out he was tougher than he was during his earlier writing but there's none of that here. The book is clearly written by someone is aware of and has come to terms with many of his own shortcomings and conceits. The book feels very honest and "true".
I am Mailer fan anyway and this is definitely a Mailer book, so if you like his writing, you will love this. If you don't, you probably won't. If you've never read Mailer, then I would start with The Naked and the Dead but if I liked that I would read Harlot's Ghost next.
Mailer really lets himself go with this one. It's hyper-real rather than realist, completely over the top and self indulgent, (Mailer appears to have sacked his editor and then taken a course on how to go off on tangents from Victor Hugo) but it's massive fun. Mailer clearly had great fun writing the book but it covers many serious subjects too and there is some explicit sexual content of an alternative nature. Many of Mailer's later books appear to cover the similar themes, sexuality, mistrust/paranioa, betrayal, the nature of relationships and reality. This book is no exception and to me it feels like a spiritual, though clearly not an actual, autobiography. Mailer was accused of trying to make out he was tougher than he was during his earlier writing but there's none of that here. The book is clearly written by someone is aware of and has come to terms with many of his own shortcomings and conceits. The book feels very honest and "true".
I am Mailer fan anyway and this is definitely a Mailer book, so if you like his writing, you will love this. If you don't, you probably won't. If you've never read Mailer, then I would start with The Naked and the Dead but if I liked that I would read Harlot's Ghost next.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Mailer's Monster
I suppose Macho Mailer thinks size is everything, which would account for the vastness of this tome. It's a seriously big book. Parts of it are good. Read more
Published on 29 Oct 2008 by lurgee
Monster book doesn't lift off...
Writing a novel of 1400 pages is a daunting task. The story msut be big enough and entertaiing enough to keep the reader's attention. Read more
Published on 21 Nov 2003 by fields21
Try to CIA it my way
This is a huge and very satisfying book. It takes us through a career in the CIA, and is a gripping account of the paranoia and arrogance of that organisation. Read more
Published on 17 Sep 2003 by John Ault
Long and winding C.I.A. thriller
The initial reaction of any reader upon picking up a copy of 'Harlot's Ghost' must be to contemplate the novel's sheer size: at 1300+ words this is truly a monster. Read more
Published on 18 Sep 2001
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