The Secret Agent

Book excerpt: In a city teeming with political unrest and foreign intrigues, Adolf Verloc, a seemingly unassuming shopkeeper, is at the heart of a sinister conspiracy. Employed as a secret agent by an ambiguous foreign power, Verloc becomes entangled in a web of deception and betrayal that threatens to unravel the fabric of society itself. As the narrative unfolds, Conrad delves into the complexities of ideology, morality, and the blurred lines between right and wrong. The novel offers a profound examination of the consequences of political extremism and the moral dilemmas faced by those caught in its web. The Secret Agent is a psychologically intense and morally challenging work, showcasing Conrad's mastery in navigating the darkest corners of the human soul. JOSEPH CONRAD [1857–1924] was born in Ukraine to Polish parents, went to sea at the age of seventeen, and ended his career as a captain in the English merchant navy. His most famous work is the novella Heart of Darkness [1899], adapted to film by Francis Ford Coppola in 1979 as Apocalypse Now.