The Secret Agent

Although some critics would dispute this claim, there is no doubt that The “Secret Agent”, like “Nostromo”, achieves powerful effects with an irony which is heightened by the employment of bold time-shifts in the narration. The story, which is wholly fictional, had its germ in an actual attempt, made in 1894, to blow up Greenwich Observatory, and Conrad exhibits the rather repulsive profiles of the terrorists and anarchists involved 'in scorn as well as in pity'. The indolent anarchist, Mr Verloc; his wife, Winnie; the tough diplomat, Mr Vladimir, and the old police hand, Heat, are characters to rank with Conrad's best.

Published 1981.

Binding of book is intact. Slightly darkened covers with moderate shelfwear, foxing, some creasing, fraying and sticker shadow on covers of book. Heavy tanning and foxing on edges of book. Moderate foxing and some creasing on insides of covers. Annotations in pen on inside of front cover. Moderate foxing, some creasing and few stains on certain pages.