Mr Verloc, the secret agent, keeps a shop in London's Soho where he lives with his wife Winnie, her infirm mother, and her idiot brother, Stevie. W...
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Feb 09, 2009
I actually thought the first chapter was perfection. So how could the creator of that chapter have produced the second chapter, allowing everything he'd built up to be ravaged by adverbs? Did Conrad use up his Spidey juice? Or was he saving his talent for later efforts, believing one solid chapter would be enough to lull the reader into head-bobbing idolatry? I don't get it.
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May 27, 2008
Amanda
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I thought that The Secret Agent was a genuinely fascinating profile of modern (by which I mean 1905) London society, and I found Conrad's picture of society being driven by personal interest and the lust for political power to be incredibly modern (by which I mean 2008) in its deep pessimism and sceptical view of human nature. Conrad presents us with a wide spectrum of characters, from loyal wives and impoverished cabdrivers to police officers and activist anarchists, each of whom is motivate
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Oct 13, 2011
Patrick
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Ever since 9/11 there have been many a reference to Joseph Conrad's The Secret Agent, which has piqued my interest. I saw a cheap copy and picked it up recently and read it. I've read a couple of Conrad novels before (The Hear of Darkness and Lord Jim), but it has been a long time. The 19th century pacing that requires time to introduce and flesh out the main characters and set up the action. In this novel it takes almost 2/3 of the novel to achieve this goal, despite the fact that the novel is
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Jul 02, 2009
Melody
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Trying to decide if you “liked” a book can become a complicated process. Oh, not for some books. Some books catch you quickly and slyly sink in and mingle with your reality and whisper to you during the day when you are supposed to be working or driving or running. But there are some just plain stubborn books; books that almost seem to be daring you to put them down and move on to something else. Conrad’s The Secret Agent affected me that way. I read the Introduction, the select Bibliograph
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Jun 28, 2008
Rashaan
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Like his fellow genius scribes, E. Bronte and Dostoevsky, Joseph Conrad plunges us into the dark Nietzschean swamps of the human soul. He dares to look into the abyss and unflinchingly reaches in, grasping the monsters within us. With his adept hands, in the blazing light of his vision and words, Conrad holds us up to ourselves.
Winne Verloc, like Kurtz, is vividly cast. She is a white, hot flash of brilliance. Conrad depicts her in crystal clear pitch. She seems to be drawn from Oph More...
Winne Verloc, like Kurtz, is vividly cast. She is a white, hot flash of brilliance. Conrad depicts her in crystal clear pitch. She seems to be drawn from Oph More...
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Dec 25, 2007
James
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First, I hate Conrad as a matter of principle. Nostromo made my mind vomit uncontrollably... And don't get me started on Heart of Darkness...
The Secret Agent, however, is unique among Conrad's "work." First of all, the cynicism is directed not just at one or two groups but the entire culture of the western world and the many flawed sub-cultures springing from it. Each group has an anti-hero that you find yourself rooting for one moment and rooting for another character More...
The Secret Agent, however, is unique among Conrad's "work." First of all, the cynicism is directed not just at one or two groups but the entire culture of the western world and the many flawed sub-cultures springing from it. Each group has an anti-hero that you find yourself rooting for one moment and rooting for another character More...
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Sep 01, 2010
John
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I've always associated Conrad's novel The Secret Agent with Alfred Hitchcock's movie version, Sabotage, which I enjoyed. It's not surprising, though, that Conrad's novel is more thoughtful. Conrad spends much time analyzing the character of Adolf Verloc, his family, the terrorists, and the police. It's slow-paced compared to today's thrillers, but still has a couple scenes that shocked readers a century ago. Also, Conrad uses an interesting mix of narrative techniques, putting one major event "
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Nov 12, 2008
Daniel
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If I hadn't "freed" myself from the fetters of public education I would have come to this gem a lot earlier on. As it happened, sometime during my eternal formal education, a direct superior of mine mentioned reading Conrad's sea stories and I so I tried them. I wasn't in the mood for sailing but noticed he had written this spy story novel. (Like a lot of people I know, I wish I was a spy on alternate Tuesday's of months with 31 days in them.) Even I found more in this book than jus
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Aug 07, 2011
Tocotin
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The story starts off slowly but in an intriguing way, so I read through long and winded descriptions of people and places hoping to see how it all unfolds. The characters aren't particularly likable, but I couldn't help feeling sorry for them - all of them. They just weren't able to understand each other, or even to successfully communicate with each other, and of course the tragical outcome of the whole affair was not to be avoided.
I'm not sure if it can be classified as a spy novel, More...
I'm not sure if it can be classified as a spy novel, More...
Aug 15, 2010
Parksy
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Enjoyable book - fairly quick, but had to be patient with it.
The Secret Agent: A Simple Tale is a novel by Joseph Conrad published in 1907. The story is set in London in 1886 and deals largely with the life of Mr. Verloc and his job as a spy.[1:] The Secret Agent is also notable as it is one of Conrad's later political novels, which move away from his typical tales of seafaring. The novel deals broadly with the notions of anarchism, espionage, and terrorism.[2:] It portrays anarchist More...
The Secret Agent: A Simple Tale is a novel by Joseph Conrad published in 1907. The story is set in London in 1886 and deals largely with the life of Mr. Verloc and his job as a spy.[1:] The Secret Agent is also notable as it is one of Conrad's later political novels, which move away from his typical tales of seafaring. The novel deals broadly with the notions of anarchism, espionage, and terrorism.[2:] It portrays anarchist More...
Dec 17, 2009
Elizabeth
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Like much of Conrad's work, this is a dark book. The title character is an Englishman named Verlac working for a central European government (unnamed but the officials have German and Slavic names). His mission is to go underground among anarchists exiled in London (the bomb-throwing kind, though few of them actually get to that point) and to inform his employers whenever one of the anarchists is likely to mount an attack against the homeland. A change of personnel in the embassy, however, ha
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Feb 05, 2012
Jim
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A world where selfless revolutionary geniuses scheme for what they think is a better world but are thwarted by the tireless efforts of London's Finest?
Nope, a world where ineffectual "secret" agents are used by lazy Chief Inspectors to pad their arrest statistics and reputations. Where spies fronting as pornographers are too frightened of being cutoff from their monthly stipend that they have to *do* something, however ineffectual.
This novel has my vote of the f More...
Nope, a world where ineffectual "secret" agents are used by lazy Chief Inspectors to pad their arrest statistics and reputations. Where spies fronting as pornographers are too frightened of being cutoff from their monthly stipend that they have to *do* something, however ineffectual.
This novel has my vote of the f More...
Oct 15, 2011
Miranda
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Wow for a book published in 1907 it has some suprisingly modern insights! I read this book because it is on the "1001 Books to Read Before You Die" List and I am slowly working my way through the list. I chose this book as the second one to read off the list because although it had a lot to say it sounded like an easy read. I wasn't wrong there. Although it took a bit to get into at the beginning, by the end it was a fast paced read that left you wondering how it was all going to end.
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May 09, 2011
Veronica
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I had a love/hate relationship with this book. Perhaps it was due to actual events that unfolded last week that made me less than enthusiastic about perusing a book whose central character was a terrorist setting to blow up a building.
While some may argue that the book was truly a manifestation of anarchist activities, I felt the book did very little expounding on the rebellions’ activities, and instead was a character study of day to day existence, including secrets, misunderstandin More...
While some may argue that the book was truly a manifestation of anarchist activities, I felt the book did very little expounding on the rebellions’ activities, and instead was a character study of day to day existence, including secrets, misunderstandin More...
Mar 09, 2010
F.R.
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I last read Conrad as an undergraduate, and can remember thinking that his books were cold and humourless.
Obviously I was young, but how could I be so ridiculously wrong?
His excellent novel ‘The Secret Agent’ is a very human tale about a terrorist outrage. It’s dryly witty, cynical and – in the tale of Mrs Verloc – incredibly warm and compassionate.
Anarchists attempt to blow up Greenwich Observatory and we see – in a sometimes fragmented way – how the plot i More...
Obviously I was young, but how could I be so ridiculously wrong?
His excellent novel ‘The Secret Agent’ is a very human tale about a terrorist outrage. It’s dryly witty, cynical and – in the tale of Mrs Verloc – incredibly warm and compassionate.
Anarchists attempt to blow up Greenwich Observatory and we see – in a sometimes fragmented way – how the plot i More...
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Dec 03, 2010
Matthew
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I must say when I first heard of The Secret Agent, I didn't exactly expect this sort of novel from Conrad. My other encounters with one of the 20th century's greatest writers - Lord Jim and Heart of Darkness - were sea-faring novels, a far cry from this novel of political subterfuges, domestic strife, and English society.
The Secret Agent is a very dark London novel, where Adolph Verloc runs a seedy Soho pornography shop which serves as his "ostensible business," with his real More...
The Secret Agent is a very dark London novel, where Adolph Verloc runs a seedy Soho pornography shop which serves as his "ostensible business," with his real More...
Mar 04, 2008
Chuck
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If you're at all interested in the subworld of 19th century socialists, commies, anarchists and British bureaucrats and cops (and who isnt?) and don't mind a thick spread of dense descriptions check this out. Its a novel, its not explicit in taking an ideological side. Also, its neat to think about how the characters' world compares to our own "War On Terror."
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Sep 16, 2010
Briynne
rated it:
Very fun. I thought the beginning and end of the story deserved five stars and the middle deserved three, so I just averaged it out. That's what I like to call mathematical reviewing, friends.
I should begin by saying that I have an irrational fondness for the idea of anarchism. I chalk it up to a truly phenomenal Russian-East German-American professor I had my senior year of college who taught a class on anarchism and 19th-century Russian Lit that was the most intellectually fulfi More...
I should begin by saying that I have an irrational fondness for the idea of anarchism. I chalk it up to a truly phenomenal Russian-East German-American professor I had my senior year of college who taught a class on anarchism and 19th-century Russian Lit that was the most intellectually fulfi More...
May 07, 2010
Timmy
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I enjoyed a number of Conrad's observations in this book related to various aspects of the human condition. Some of the most poignant were actually in the author's note before the novel begins, such as when he refers to a "monstrous town more populous than some continents" having "man-made might as if indifferent to heaven's frowns and smiles; a cruel devourer of the world's light." Some of Conrad's darker descriptions throughout the text were also sufficient for me. Despit
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Apr 18, 2011
Adam
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This is a very problematic book. On one hand, the sentence level writing is strong throughout, and Conrad, as usual, does an excellent job creating an impressively, opressive version of London. This book inspires dread. Characters walk around in a "torpor" or a "somnambulistic" state, fervently hoping that they know all they need to know. It turns out that they are fundamentally mistaken and their Pollyanna-ish hope that they are loved, their incuriosity as to what lies b
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Sep 29, 2009
Quinn
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The Secret Agent is Conrad's sneering portrait of the anarchist underground in turn-of-the-century London. The anarchists are doddering, overweight, hysterical, "negroid" or dissipated and all are dependent on women. Their politics, Conrad implies, come from petulance about their inability to escape this feminizing dependency. They despise society because they know nothing of it, having lived outside of the space where "real men" define themselves through diligent, value-
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Jun 01, 2009
Rose
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Joseph Conrad's The Secret Agent, first published in 1907, begins by introducing us to the secret agent himself, one Mr. Verloc, who has been enjoying a recent period of leisure while his services were in low demand. Happy to be collecting his paycheck for little to no effort on his part, our portly and lazy spy is unhappy to find himself summoned to a foreign embassy and ordered by a disrespectful superior to bomb the Greenwich Observatory. What follows is Verloc's attempts to carry out order
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Nov 24, 2011
Gregzeck
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Yes, a detective story and a thriller, but what I especially liked was the way Conrad shifted points of view, from the secret agent to the detective to the agent's wife and then her would-be seducer. In getting us into the minds of several different persons, Conrad shows shifting perspective, shifting sympathy, and the difficulty of one mind in comprehending another. This shifting point of view turns us readers too into detectives as we search clues through the minds of the various characters, f
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Feb 13, 2011
Justin
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This is the first Joseph Conrad book that I've read and as such I was a little unsure of what to expect but I can now say that I'm thoroughly impressed by his mastery of English prose, something that's all the more amazing considering that he didn't even learn English till he was in his twenties. There's something about his writing that I really enjoyed. He takes his time exploring the psychology of his characters, developing their thoughts and providing a basis for the actions they commit. I
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Oct 28, 2011
Myles
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A gripping read, The Secret Agent pulls you in with a superb opening chapter and strings you along until the final rush. Conrad has lightened his Victorian style for this story, but is by no means stingy with words. An important character short on time and patience often demands to hear only the "details...no particulars" and might be an explanation to his dumbfounded readers at the briskness of the pace and dialogue in the last half of the book. Some of his techniques made me wonder h
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Dec 29, 2011
Moses
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Conrad's writing is so deep you'll want 'fictional detox' after encountering the secret agent. However, in as much as this is a great book from which I rose with reflection and that 'look inside situation,' I just dug through the first half of it, enjoying the writing and wondering what its trying to say. For a while it just wasn't getting through to me, but towards the end it was pure Genius. The way Mrs. Verloc reacts to the death of her degenerate brother Stevie is just so profoundly affectin
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Jul 29, 2011
Dave/Maggie
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Conrad’s one of my favorite authors, and has been for a very long time. Whatever his detractors may say of him, his insight into human nature was almost frighteningly keen. This multi-layered novel examines opportunism, corruption, sh*t-stirring, fear mongering, nihilism, and the impotent desperation of the habitual malcontent. Especially relevant in the “post 9/11 world.”
One of Conrad’s bleakest, most claustrophobic novels (although Under Western Eyes certainly comes close), The Secr More...
One of Conrad’s bleakest, most claustrophobic novels (although Under Western Eyes certainly comes close), The Secr More...
Mar 30, 2010
Sara
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New York has been a bit like dreary old London the past few days and perhaps that helped get me in the mindset for Conrad's misanthropic book. There's little to make you feel less charitable towards the human race than trying to navigate umbrellas through New York. And Conrad's take on the human race is grim. There is no one in it not worth ridiculing and nobody in this book comes out clean, save perhaps poor Stevie. This is a restrictive, claustrophobic book. It has its frustrations and rewards
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Oct 06, 2010
April
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So after the horror known as The Heart of Darkness, I hoped that I would never have to read Joseph Conrad ever again. The Heart of Darkness made me claw my face!!! Bwah!!!...Okay, rant over. I am actually glad that I was forced to read another Conrad as this book helped me change my opinion a wee bit. Conrad is actually really funny. I laughed aloud several times when read this. It is was really smart too. He covers all aspects of the political realm without ever aligning himself to any politica
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Jul 31, 2011
In a change from his usual nautical territory, Conrad creates a terrificly dark tale of espionage, counter espionage, terrorism, madness and suicide. Verloc is just one of the memorable characters who populate a brilliantly written novel which was inspired by a real-life bungled terrorist plot. Mr Vladimir, ostensibly Verloc's boss, orders him to launch a terrorist attack on 'astronomy', and this command starts a chain of events which lead to a terrible but inevitable conclusion. I'm not the gre
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