The Ghost Writer
By Philip Roth
Nominations: National Book Finalist 1980, National Book Critics Circle Finalist 1979, NY Times Finalist 1979, Pulitzer Finalist 1980
Date Read: August 16, 2020
The Ghost Writer is one of the most interesting pieces by Roth that I have read to date. A young writer, Zuckerman, enamored and in awe of his idol, E.I. Lonoff, is invited to Lonoff’s home for an evening of discussion and food. Due to bad weather, Zuckerman is forced to stay overnight and the additional time allows him to see his mentor, Lonoff’s wife, Hope, and the young woman staying with them in an intimate and uncomfortable entente. Add in Zuckerman’s remarkable imagination and this innocent pilgrimage becomes an evening not easily forgotten.
Zuckerman is taken with the young student, Amy, and imagines many ways in which to put the two of them in closer proximity throughout the evening and morning. After overhearing a conversation between Amy and Lonoff, Zuckerman’s imagination runs wild and he imagines that Amy is actually Anne Frank, who survived the concentration camps and assumed a new identity. Zuckerman fantasizes about presenting this new-found Anne Frank to his family as his wife, which in one fell swoop would demolish the accusation his family and influential acquaintances have presented: that Zuckerman is actually a self-loathing anti-Semite.
In reality, Amy is enmeshed in an affair with Lonoff and Hope is entirely aware of the situation, creating two uncomfortable run-ins that made even me feel guilty. While I understand her point, these scenes seem purely for eliciting praise and desire rather than her taking any lasting action.
Roth here is brilliant, articulate and creative. He has created rich world of noble aspiration, obsequious adoration and waning devotion. Rock on, Roth!
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