The Ghost (published in the US as The Ghost Writer) was published by Hutchinson in 2007. An unnamed ghostwriter is hired to finish the memoirs of Adam Lang, a charismatic former British Prime Minister now living in exile on Martha’s Vineyard while facing war-crimes charges. The previous ghostwriter drowned — possibly not accidentally — and the narrator discovers that Lang’s political career may have been shaped from the beginning by a secret relationship with the CIA.
The novel was widely and correctly read as a roman à clef about Tony Blair, whose relationship with George W. Bush and whose authorization of the Iraq War had made him a deeply controversial figure. Harris, who had been close to Blair before their falling out over Iraq, brought insider knowledge to the portrait of a political figure whose charm conceals a fundamental hollowness.
Roman Polanski directed the film adaptation (The Ghost Writer, 2010), starring Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan, which is considered one of the best political thrillers of its decade.
The Blair Parallel
Harris and Blair had been friends before the Iraq War. Harris’s subsequent disillusionment was total, and The Ghost is widely understood as his reckoning with Blair’s political legacy. The portrait of a leader whose charm masks a willingness to serve foreign power at the expense of his own country is devastating precisely because it is informed by personal knowledge.
Collecting The Ghost
First edition (Hutchinson, London, 2007): Boards with dust jacket.
Approximate market values:
- UK first edition, fine in jacket: $25–$50
- US first edition (Simon & Schuster): $10–$25
Projected values (2026–2036): Moderate appreciation. The Polanski film adaptation sustains awareness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was The Ghost made into a film? Yes. Roman Polanski directed The Ghost Writer (2010), starring Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan. The film won the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival and is widely considered one of Polanski’s finest late works. Harris co-wrote the screenplay.