logo

48 pages 1 hour read

The Secret Agent

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1907

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Joseph Conrad

The Secret Agent

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1907
Book Details
Pages

442

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

London • 1880s

Publication Year

1907

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad follows Adolf Verloc, a secret agent in 1886 London, who is forced by his employer to orchestrate a bombing at the Greenwich Observatory to prove his worth. Verloc's involvement with anarchists and the police, coupled with using his wife's brother as a pawn, leads to disastrous and tragic consequences for his family. The plot incorporates elements of espionage, familial strife, and satire.

Dark

Mysterious

Unnerving

Suspenseful

Melancholic

Reviews & Readership

3.8

23,599 ratings

55%

Loved it

32%

Mixed feelings

13%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Joseph Conrad's The Secret Agent is lauded for its intricate narrative and psychological depth, offering a compelling critique of anarchism and espionage. However, some readers find the pacing slow and the prose dense. While the novel's dark themes and complex characters are admired, these elements may not appeal to all audiences.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Secret Agent?

Readers who relish delving into political intrigue and psychological depth will appreciate Joseph Conrad's The Secret Agent. Fans of Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment or Orwell's 1984 will find the novel’s exploration of anarchism, espionage, and moral ambiguity compelling. Ideal for those who enjoy dense, thought-provoking narratives.

3.8

23,599 ratings

55%

Loved it

32%

Mixed feelings

13%

Not a fan

Character List

Adolf Verloc

A secret agent of French and English descent, living in London with his wife Winnie, who runs a shop that sells illicit materials and reports on radicals to an embassy.

Adolf's pragmatic wife, whose primary concern is the well-being of her mother and brother, Stevie, due to her protective instincts developed from a difficult childhood.

An unnamed official responsible for investigating anarchist activities, utilizing his experience from colonial settings to handle domestic threats against the British state.

Winnie’s younger brother with a cognitive disability, who is deeply sensitive to injustices due to his past experiences, especially protective of those he perceives as vulnerable.

Book Details
Pages

442

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

London • 1880s

Publication Year

1907

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.