Political fiction Psychological thriller Terrorism Anarchy Espionage Betrayal Family dynamics
The Secret Agent is a novel written by Joseph Conrad and published in 1907. It is considered the first spy thriller in the history of literature.
The story is set in London in 1886 and focuses on the life of secret agent Adolf Verloc. This agent is hired by a foreign country to carry out an attack on the Greenwich observatory and will carry out a plan of dubious ethics to carry out said assignment, which will have profound consequences.
The book delves into the social background of terrorism and is a topic that is really relevant today, especially after the 2001 attacks in New York.
With a rather dark tone, it complements the serious theme with dark humor. Joseph Conrad does not blame the individual, but rather establishes all of society as guilty.
"Verloc, going out in the morning, left his shop nominally in charge of his brother-in-law. It could be done, because there was very little business at any time, and practically none at all before the evening.
Mr. Verloc cared but little about his ostensible business. And, moreover, his wife was in charge of his brother-in-law..."
#48 in Mystery (this month)
#255 in Literary fiction (this month)
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Copyright info
The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad is believed to be in the public domain in the United States only. It may still be copyrighted in other countries. If you are not in the United States, please check your local laws to ensure this eBook is in the public domain in your country before downloading The Secret Agent in PDF or ePub.
Conradâs chilling study of espionage, radicalization, and bureaucratic rotâdomestic terror rendered intimate.
Disinformation, surveillance, and the banality of violence make this a razor for todayâs headlines.
Shadows behind shopfronts.
Ends vs. means.
Feels uncomfortably current.
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Sea, empire, and conscience in a prose that listens to ambiguity and cost.
We have 13 books by Joseph Conrad in the AliceAndBooks library