The Secret Agent is Joseph Conrad's intriguing and darkly humourous novel of anarchists, spies and agents-provocateurs. Set in London in 1886, it tells the story of Mr Verloc, a shop-keeper and secret agent, who becomes involved in a plot to blow up the Royal Observatory at Greenwich. Written at a time when violent protest was increasing, The Secret Agent is widely considered one of Conrad's finest novels, and foretells the rise of anarchism and terrorism. A moving depiction of a corrupt society, and an unforgettable tale of betrayal and despair, The Secret Agent is a must for any reader interested in the roots of terrorism, human motivation and the clash of political ideas.