Ghosts of Manila

by James Hamilton-Paterson

A wasteland city whose factory processes the skeletons of derelicts harbors four people--a television journalist, an archaeologist, an embattled and poor Filipina, and a corrupt cop--who reflect unresolved pasts

Genres: Fiction, Literature

279 pages, Hardcover

First published May 27, 1994

About the author

James Hamilton-Paterson is a British poet, novelist, and one of the most private literary figures of his generation. Educated at Exeter College, Oxford, he began his career as a journalist before emerging as a novelist with a distinctive lyrical style. He gained early recognition for Gerontius, a Whitbread Award-winning novel, and went on to write Ghosts of Manila and America’s Boy, incisive works reflecting his deep engagement with the Philippines. His interests range widely, from history and science to aviation, as seen in Seven-Tenths and Empire of the Clouds. He also received praise for his darkly comic Gerald Samper trilogy. Hamilton-Paterson divides his time between Austria, Italy, and the Philippines and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2023.

Reviews

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The synopsis on Goodreads or Amazon are accurate as descriptions of things that happen in this novel but are empty of understanding because more than anything else this novel is a paean to or about Manila. It is not necessary to be old enough to remember the 'people power' revolution that forced president Marcos and his wife Imelda from power to understand or appreciate this novel. But for those who do remember the presentation of that battle, by the foreign media, as a straight forward battle of good, the saintly widow of the national hero Cory Aquino, against the evil Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos, this novel will resonate because of how quickly that tale turned so deeply complicated that in no time at all it wasn't that there weren't bad guys a plenty but it seemed there no good guys anywhere in the story.

This is a novel about the search for truth and also the impossibility of finding, let alone recognising or understanding truth. It is not a novel of answers but of questions. I don't say it is populated by Graham Greene type characters - but it is a Greene novel in its understanding and lack of judgement over human frailty and for all its illusionary nature the belief in truth and individual decency.

Hamilton-Patterson is a writer of rare beauty and this novel is a first rate contemplation on what it means to be human.

[Bryan Thomas Schmidt · Rating 3 out of 5]

The settings and descriptions are particularly vivid here but I thought the plot was rather thin and really didn’t amount to a whole lot. They were also an awful lot of characters to keep track of for such a short novel. Certainly a unique setting with an interesting perspective on a foreign culture but not quite the over-the-top rave that everybody keeps talking about. Also I didn’t think the violence was extreme and over the top. Much of it happens off screen. I can see why the literary crew adores this but I need a little more substance to make me happy. Recommend it if you’re interested in the Philippines or poverty with a semi realistic perspective but not necessarily for anybody else.

[False · Rating 2 out of 5]

My review's...aren't. Notes to myself. I have long loved the non-fiction writing of James Hamilton-Patterson. At one time in my life I chose to read everything he had in print, or purchased it, in this case. A death factory in Manila. Fiction. Not one of my favorite works of his, but hopefully someone will find it and enjoy it, just for his talent in writing. Currently, he seems to be writing a lot of satire, which is selling well and giving him a name. If it pays the bills. Why not?

[Hugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic book giving an insight into the Far East. Although I found the beginning slow and confusing, the different perspectives of the characters and interwoven plot line becomes clearer and highly readable as I read on.

Some philosophical references and difficult to read passages from Prideaux aside, a fantastic down to earth read that allowed me to relate to the characters.

Would recommend to all, especially archaeology and PHD students, who might get some motivation from it!

[DROPPING OUT · Rating 4 out of 5]

I vacillated between three and four stars, finally settling on four, if only because Hamilton-Paterson is one helluva wordsmith. He writes well, the story lines flows one into the the other flawlessly.

He knows Manila from having lived there as long as he has, and he extracts every measure of tragicomedy out of the hard scrabble lives of his characters.

If you have the time and inclination - and an ear for English as it ought to be writ - Ghosts of Manila is a most rewarding reading experience.

[Philippe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful story-telling that captures the visceral energy of a tropical metropolis. It's almost but not quite on a par with Hamilton-Paterson's Gerontius, one of the most haunting novels I had the pleasure of reading.