内容简介
ThischillinglypropheticexaminationofterrorismbytheauthorofHeartofDarknessistheliteraryprecursortotheespionagethrillersofGrahamGreeneandJohnLeCarré.InspiredbyanactualattempttoblowuptheGreenwichObservatory,TheSecretAgentportraystheworldoflate-nineteenth-centuryLondon,withitsfatuouscivilservants,corruptpolice,andsqualidunderworldcharacterslikeVerloc,apornographeractingasagovernmentinformant.Verloc’sassignmentistoprovoketheradicalswhosegrouphehaspenetratedintocommittinganactofsuchviolencethattheywillbediscreditedandtheirappealtothemassesdestroyed.Withitsquestionablecharactersandamoralcaricatures,thenovelisasmuchablacksatireofEnglishsocietyasafrighteningmirrorofthepresentday.WithanIntroductionbyE.L.DoctorowandaNewAfterwordbyDebraRomanickBaldwin
作者简介
JosephConrad(1857–1924)livedalifeasfantasticasanyofhisfiction.HisaristocraticparentswereardentPolishpatriotswhodiedwhenhewasachildasaresultoftheirrevolutionaryactivities.Conradwenttoseaatsixteen,taughthimselfEnglish,andgraduallyworkedhiswayupuntilhepassedhismaster’sexaminationandwasgivencommandofmerchantshipsinAsiaandontheCongoRiver.Attheageofthirty-two,hedecidedtotryhishandatwriting.Althoughhisworkwontheadmirationofcritics,salesweresmall.Hewasanervous,introverted,gloomymanforwhomwritingwasanagony,buthewasrichinfriendswhoappreciatedhisgenius,amongthemHenryJames,StephenCrane,andFordMadoxFord.E.L.Doctorowistheauthorofnumerousacclaimednovels,includingRagtime,World'sFair,andBillyBathgate.DebraRomanickBaldwinisAssociateProfessorofEnglishandDirectoroftheWritingProgramattheUniversityofDallas,wheresheteachesthewesternliterarytraditionfromHomerandDantetoWoolfandBellow.PastPresidentoftheJosephConradSocietyofAmerica,shehaswrittenoveradozenarticlesandessaysonConrad,aswellasonFlanneryO’Connor,St.Augustine,andPrimoLevi.,,,,
