The Secret Agent
by Conrad, Joseph
- Used
- very good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Very Good
- ISBN 10
- 0140432280
- ISBN 13
- 9780140432282
- Seller
-
Olympia, Washington, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Synopsis
The Secret Agent: A Simple Tale is one of Joseph Conrad’s later novels. Set in London in 1886, the novel tells the story of Adolf Verloc, a member of a largely ineffectual anarchist group who is also a secret agent, and an operation with unforeseen consequences. In his Author’s Note written in 1920, Conrad explains that the plot of the novel was inspired by the Greenwich Bomb Outrage of February 1894. In this event, explosives prematurely detonated in the hands of French anarchist named Martial Bourdin on the grounds of the Greenwich Observatory. What fascinated Conrad the most about the Greenwich Bomb Outrage was the fact that the motives remained a mystery. Through themes of espionage, anarchism, and terrorism based on horrific, but true events, The Secret Agent questions the world's capacity for reason and order in a smart, yet skeptical way. Perhaps this explains why the novel is said to be one of the three most talked-about works of literature in the media immediately after 9/11. The Secret Agent did not sell well initially, but is now considered a classic. The novel is ranked 46th on Modern Library’s “100 Best” English-language novels of the 20th century. The Secret Agent has undergone multiple adaptations for both the stage and the screen. Perhaps most notable is Alfred Hitchcock's 1936 film, Sabotage, loosely based on the novel, though many changes to the plot and characters were made. (Not to be confused with another 1936 Hitchcock film, Secret Agent, based on short stories by W. Somerset Maugham.) Fun fact: The Secret Agent is said to have greatly influenced Theodore Kaczynski, better known as the Unabomber. Kaczynski, who engaged in a nationwide bombing campaign in the US between 1978 and 1995, strongly identified with the Professor, the villain of the novel.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Turtleman Used Books (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- ST00824
- Title
- The Secret Agent
- Author
- Conrad, Joseph
- Book Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0140432280
- ISBN 13
- 9780140432282
- Publisher
- Penguin Classics
- Place of Publication
- London
- Date Published
- 1986
- Pages
- 269
- Size
- 11.1 cm x 18 cm x 1.5 cm
- Bookseller catalogs
- Thriller; Satire; Action and adventure; Classics;
Terms of Sale
Turtleman Used Books
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including original shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged. Buyer responsible for return postage. Due to recently enacted packaging rules, I cannot ship to Germany. (Too expensive.)
About the Seller
Turtleman Used Books
About Turtleman Used Books
Opened August 1st of 2022, Turtleman Used Books in Olympia, WA. Address is 108 22nd Ave SW, Olympia, WA 98501. Suite #4. This is a small shop, so some books may only be displayed online, others only displayed in the store. Come on by if you are in town. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Many of my books are oversized. Rather than ask for shipping adjustments at the time of purchase, the list price for heavier books includes the excess shipping cost. All of my photographs are of the actual product, taken by my trusty little Kindle Fire. Currently we have about 2900 books offered for sale online, with more being added daily. Check back frequently to see what's new. -----
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Tight
- Used to mean that the binding of a book has not been overly loosened by frequent use.