The Secret Agent

About “The Secret Agent”

The Secret Agent: A Simple Tale is a spy fiction novel by Joseph Conrad, first published in book form in 1907, set in Soho, London in 1886. The story centers on Mr. Adolf Verloc, a spy for an unnamed country, and explores themes of anarchism, espionage, terrorism, and the exploitation of the vulnerable, particularly in his relationship with his brother-in-law Stevie, who has an intellectual disability. The novel reflects Conrad's shift from maritime tales to political fiction and draws stylistic influence from Charles Dickens' Bleak House.