The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad

Name: The Secret Agent
Author: Joseph Conrad

The novel revolves around Verloc, a secret agent who works for a foreign government to monitor anarchist activities in London. He lives with his wife Winnie and runs a shop that sells pornographic films. However, Verloc's true purpose is to gather intelligence on the anarchists, but he becomes increasingly disillusioned with his role. The story takes a turn when Verloc is tasked with carrying out an assassination, which he reluctantly agrees to do. He travels to Belgium to meet with his contact and receive further instructions. Meanwhile, Winnie discovers her husband's true identity and becomes suspicious of his activities. As the plot unfolds, Verloc's actions become more erratic, and he begins to question his loyalty to the foreign government. The novel builds towards a tragic conclusion as Verloc's world collapses around him. The themes of the novel include the nature of espionage, the blurred lines between loyalty and betrayal, and the consequences of one's actions.

By Joseph Conrad · First published 1907 · Genre: Political Fiction, Thriller, Modernist Literature · 13 chapters · 105,847 words

First lines

Mr 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.

The shop was small, and so was the house. It was one of those grimy brick houses which existed in large quantities before the era of reconstruction dawned upon London. The shop was a square box of a place, with the front glazed in small panes. In the daytime the door remained closed; in the evening it stood discreetly but suspiciously ajar.

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The Secret Agent is listed on Textopian as a novel by Joseph Conrad, dated 1907 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Joseph Conrad
Date: 1907 CE
Language: English
Genres: Political Fiction, Thriller, Modernist Literature, Social Critique, Drama
Length: 105,847 words
Structure: 13 chapters, 1,628 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Political Fiction — The narrative explores themes of espionage, political intrigue, and the complexities of revolutionary movements.
Thriller — The plot involves suspenseful elements, including espionage and the tension of undercover operations.
Modernist Literature — The writing style reflects modernist techniques, including fragmented narratives and a focus on psychological depth.
Social Critique — The work critiques societal norms and the moral ambiguities of political activism.