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Ghosts on the Roof: Selected Journalism
Gathers short stories, essays, articles and reviews by the controversial journalist, and includes his observations on Marx, Joyce, Kafka, Santayana, Ayn Rand, and Greta Garbo
361 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1989
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About the author
Whittaker Chambers
44 books60 followersWhittaker Chambers born Jay Vivian Chambers and also known as David Whittaker, was an American writer and editor. A Communist party member and Soviet spy, he later renounced communism and became an outspoken opponent. He is best known for his testimony about the perjury and espionage of Alger Hiss.
In 1952, Chambers's book Witness was published to widespread acclaim. The book was a combination of autobiography, an account of his role in the Hiss case and a warning about the dangers of Communism and liberalism. Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. called it one of the greatest of all American autobiographies, and Ronald Reagan credited the book as the inspiration behind his conversion from a New Deal Democrat to a conservative Republican. Witness was a bestseller for more than a year and helped pay off Chambers' legal debts.
Chambers's book Witness is on the reading lists of the Heritage Foundation, The Weekly Standard, and the Russell Kirk Center. He is regularly cited by conservative writers such as Heritage's president Edwin Feulner.
In 1984, President Ronald Reagan posthumously awarded Chambers the Presidential Medal of Freedom, for his contribution to "the century's epic struggle between freedom and totalitarianism." In 1988, Interior Secretary Donald P. Hodel granted national landmark status to the Pipe Creek Farm. In 2001, members of the George W. Bush Administration held a private ceremony to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of Chambers's birth. Speakers included William F. Buckley Jr.
In 2007, John Chambers revealed that a library containing his father's papers should open in 2008 on the Chambers farm in Maryland. He indicated that the facility will be available to all scholars and that a separate library, rather than one within an established university, is needed to guarantee open access.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whittake...
In 1952, Chambers's book Witness was published to widespread acclaim. The book was a combination of autobiography, an account of his role in the Hiss case and a warning about the dangers of Communism and liberalism. Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. called it one of the greatest of all American autobiographies, and Ronald Reagan credited the book as the inspiration behind his conversion from a New Deal Democrat to a conservative Republican. Witness was a bestseller for more than a year and helped pay off Chambers' legal debts.
Chambers's book Witness is on the reading lists of the Heritage Foundation, The Weekly Standard, and the Russell Kirk Center. He is regularly cited by conservative writers such as Heritage's president Edwin Feulner.
In 1984, President Ronald Reagan posthumously awarded Chambers the Presidential Medal of Freedom, for his contribution to "the century's epic struggle between freedom and totalitarianism." In 1988, Interior Secretary Donald P. Hodel granted national landmark status to the Pipe Creek Farm. In 2001, members of the George W. Bush Administration held a private ceremony to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of Chambers's birth. Speakers included William F. Buckley Jr.
In 2007, John Chambers revealed that a library containing his father's papers should open in 2008 on the Chambers farm in Maryland. He indicated that the facility will be available to all scholars and that a separate library, rather than one within an established university, is needed to guarantee open access.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whittake...
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 20, 2013
Ghost on the Roof is a collection of essays written by Chambers, primarily during his tenure at Time and Life magazines. The first section includes his communist propaganda short stories, written for The New Masses. The last section are columns from his time with National Review.
If, like me, you became curious about the essays he mentions in Witness, you will be pleased to know they're all here. The best essays are the histories of western civilization, his review of Atlas Shrugged, and his essays on people--like Marian Anderson.
Chambers is a gifted writer and makes most any topic interesting to read. His philosophy is often very eccentric and frustrating to read for that reason. In one essay he seems to grasp an idea well, but that seems to inconsistently apply the philosophy to a different situation.
For example, he is critical of farm programs in one essay, yet concedes to their utility and necessity. But in later essays he is firmly opposed to the "Total State."
He is often confusing in his approach to the Soviet Union and the Cold War, as well. He, like few of his generation, seemed to understand the evil inherent in communism and the threat that the Soviet Union posed to the West. Yet he often seems to overrate the threat, and at other times, seems to view them as the inevitable losers they were. I suppose we can ascribe this difficulty to the fear of the threat and the fog of war. In any case, it is frustrating to follow his double-mindedness.
Many of the essays will be cryptic to those that don't know the era in which he was writing well. I suffered from this myself. At the same time, it is fascinating to read, as the book is a kind of time capsule to a bygone era.
If Witness piqued your interest, I doubt you'll be disappointed with this volume.
If, like me, you became curious about the essays he mentions in Witness, you will be pleased to know they're all here. The best essays are the histories of western civilization, his review of Atlas Shrugged, and his essays on people--like Marian Anderson.
Chambers is a gifted writer and makes most any topic interesting to read. His philosophy is often very eccentric and frustrating to read for that reason. In one essay he seems to grasp an idea well, but that seems to inconsistently apply the philosophy to a different situation.
For example, he is critical of farm programs in one essay, yet concedes to their utility and necessity. But in later essays he is firmly opposed to the "Total State."
He is often confusing in his approach to the Soviet Union and the Cold War, as well. He, like few of his generation, seemed to understand the evil inherent in communism and the threat that the Soviet Union posed to the West. Yet he often seems to overrate the threat, and at other times, seems to view them as the inevitable losers they were. I suppose we can ascribe this difficulty to the fear of the threat and the fog of war. In any case, it is frustrating to follow his double-mindedness.
Many of the essays will be cryptic to those that don't know the era in which he was writing well. I suffered from this myself. At the same time, it is fascinating to read, as the book is a kind of time capsule to a bygone era.
If Witness piqued your interest, I doubt you'll be disappointed with this volume.
Read
August 28, 2022Only read scattered essays throughout this collection. Now it's overdue at CPL. The right-wing takedown of Ayn Rand and the James Joyce reflections were probably my favorite pieces. The title piece is pretty good too.
May 18, 2015
A collection of much of Chambers' best journalstic writings, Ghosts on the Roof does not disappoint anyone familiar with his autobiographical treatise, Witness. His historical essays are the most engrossing; his words cut to the core of an era and give the reader a glimpse into the spiritual forces of the time. It must be remembered while reading anything by Chambers that he considered people's spiritual inclinations to be their truest and most important trait. For example, he disregards the economic developments that led to the Renaissance (but not entirely) more than any other author I have seen, describing the Renaissance more as a reaction to the spiritual exhaustion that resulted from Medieval Europe's attempts to explore and understand the nature of God.
The dates of each essay must be taken into account when assessing them. Chambers' career famously took huge turns and his perspective changed drastically over time. He began as a cynical communist zealot seeking the only kind of redemption he believed left open to mankind, and defected to be a far more cynical defender of the West (and possibly its most stingingly acute critic) and Christian individualist. His insights, while sometimes hard to fathom at first glance for a modern reader, are always fascinating due to his unique perspective.
The dates of each essay must be taken into account when assessing them. Chambers' career famously took huge turns and his perspective changed drastically over time. He began as a cynical communist zealot seeking the only kind of redemption he believed left open to mankind, and defected to be a far more cynical defender of the West (and possibly its most stingingly acute critic) and Christian individualist. His insights, while sometimes hard to fathom at first glance for a modern reader, are always fascinating due to his unique perspective.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews