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THE SECRET AGENT
by Conrad, Joseph
- Used
- first
- Condition
- Very good plus.
- Seller
-
Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London: Methuen & Co, 1907. First issue. Very good plus.. First edition of one of Conrad's best novels, a thriller depicting terrorism in Edwardian London. Conrad's novel was partially inspired on true events, such as the botched bombing of a French anarchist in 1894, during "the first great terrorist wave of modern times" (Reiss). The book has recently seen a resurgence in interest and is now ranked among Conrad's most acclaimed: it is arguably "the most brilliant novelistic study of terrorism" (Reiss). 7.5'' x 4.5''. Original full red cloth, spine stamped with coral and seashell design and lettered in gilt. Bottom edge uncut. 40 pages of ads dated September 1907 at rear. [6], 442, [2], 40 pages. Bookplate on front pastedown. Front hinge just cracking (still firm), light edgewear around spine, corners bumped, spine slightly dulled.
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
- Type Punch Matrix
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 1146
- Title
- THE SECRET AGENT
- Author
- Conrad, Joseph
- Book Condition
- Used - Very good plus.
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First issue
- Publisher
- Methuen & Co
- Place of Publication
- London
- Date Published
- 1907
- Keywords
- Espionage,20th century
Terms of Sale
Type Punch Matrix
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About the Seller
Type Punch Matrix
Biblio member since 2020
Silver Spring, Maryland
About Type Punch Matrix
Type Punch Matrix is a rare book firm founded by Rebecca Romney and Brian Cassidy. TPM is a member firm of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America and upholds their Code of Ethics.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Hinge
- The portion of the book closest to the spine that allows the book to be opened and closed.
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Bookplate
- Highly sought after by some collectors, a book plate is an inscribed or decorative device that identifies the owner, or former...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- Cloth
- "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...
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