Book reviews

Harlot's Ghost
Norman Mailer Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography History
Norman Mailer Books
New book search
Norman Mailer Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of Harlot's Ghost
"This sprawling narrative (1200 pages in paper, 1400 in cloth) is only the first part of Mailer's projected masterwork on mid-20th century America through the prism of the CIA. Narrator Harry Hubbard grew up in the shadow of the agency, marries the cool patrician ex-wife of his powerful, scary mentor in the Company, Hugh Tremont Montague ("Harlot"), and she in turn cheats on Harry with brash operative Dix Butler. Most of the story concerns Harry's early work for the CIA during 1956-63, in Berlin after the war and in Florida trying to arrange Castro's assassination. There is much talk of love (Harry has a mistress or two, as does almost everyone else, nearly all apparently bisexuals from Eastern establishment families), betrayal, and sex. Apparently much of Harry's prehistory and probably later experiences will be taken up in a future book or two. The writing is often rich and beautiful, but it's also hard to find anyone in the cast much to like."
David Loftus, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of Harlot's Ghost
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book? - thoughtful
Time/era of story - 1930's-1950's
Romance/Romance Problems Yes
Kind of romance: - playing footsy while inconveniently married
Life of a profession: - spy
Kind of sex: - two guys doing it
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Job/Profession/Status story Yes
Taboo sex story? Yes

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - spy
Age: - 40's-50's
Ethnicity/Nationality - White (American)
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - very athletic

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 2 (a little)
United States Yes
The US: - Southeast - Northeast
Europe Yes
European country: - Germany

Style
Person - mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references
Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog
Most similar books to Harlot's Ghost
Our Man In Havana by Graham Greene
No Angel by Penny Vincenzi
Wings by Danielle Steel
Our Lady of the Flowers (Notre Dame des Fleurs) by Jean Genet
The Charioteer by Mary Renault


Click here for more information about this book




Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Literature books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Animal story

Crime & Police story

Ethnic/regional/gender life

Exploring into the wild

Family, caring for ill

Family, loving relations

Family, struggle with

Internal struggle/realization?

Job/Profession/Status story

Kids growing up/acting up?

Political/social activism

Poverty, surviving

Pregnancy/Child rearing

Religion theme?

Romance/Romance Problems

Sports Story?

War/Revolt/Disaster on civilians



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

Use our site!
Feedback
About us
Bribe your congressman!
Rudy Giuliani



Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
Online Dating Advice
Libba Bray 2:47:50 AM
J.D. Robb 10:17:42 PM
Marilyn Harris 10:16:08 PM
General Discussion (All Topics) 9:56:35 PM
Jean M. Auel 9:32:16 PM
Lilian Jackson Braun 6:38:06 PM
Suzanne Collins 5:20:17 PM
John Christopher 3:42:36 PM
Marion Chesney 3:32:36 PM
V.C. Andrews 3:11:22 PM
Erin Hunters 2:50:37 PM
Lisanne Norman 2:36:55 PM
Teri Woods 2:13:31 PM
George W. Bush 2:02:39 PM
David Eddings 11:25:21 AM
Deanne Devine 9:56:21 AM
Christopher Pike 4:55:09 AM
Mildred D. Taylor 10:51:36 PM
Sarah Dessen 10:48:24 PM
Kirk Mitchell 7:40:01 PM

More message boards