Joseph Conrad: The Secret Agent

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When an anarchist attempted to blow up the Greenwich Observatory, an idea exploded in the mind of Joseph Conrad. This program re-creates the world of The Secret Agent, the first great novel of political intrigue, in all its suspense and sinister irony. In addition, author and critic V. S. Pritchett and Keith Carabine, of Kent University (England), explore Conrad's concern that the very fabric of society was being jeopardized by the growing violence and moral corruption-a concern as timely today as it was then
The Secret Agent (2:21)
London Moral Corrosion (1:54)
Introduction to the Verlocs (2:04)
Anarchist and Agent Provocateur (4:15)
Conrad's Life Influences (2:56)
Verloc's Moral Reflection (4:02)
Anticipating 20th Century Moral Corruption (1:34)
Exposing Verloc (4:28)
Investigating the Greenwich Bomb (1:36)
Anarchism as a Metaphor (2:04)
Investigating a Secret Agent (2:44)
News of Stevie's Death (5:28)
"Secret Agent" Literary Devices (1:09)
Dysfunctional Relationships (2:47)
Unmasking a Russian Anarchist (2:10)
Conrad's Tragicomedy (0:55)
Verloc's Domestic Drama (8:21)
Winnie's Betrayal (1:55)
Modern Human Dilemma (1:52)
"The Secret Agent" Legacy (3:48)
Credits: Joseph Conrad: The Secret Agent (1:02)

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Success submitted by larkspur on July 12, 2023, 10:08am The best thing I can say about any adaptation of a story or novel is that it makes me want to read the book, and I can say that here. Success!

This video is in large part a summary (and dramatization) of Conrad's novel. There's also discussion and reflection on the historical and literary context, but less than I had expected from the summary of the video in the catalog.

The acting in the dramatization is quite good. I am left wondering about the real-life bomb attempt that caused Conrad's 'idea explosion.' This is a lovely adjunct to a book I'm currently reading about 1922 as a key turning point in English literature (_The World Broke in Two_).

(P.S. I wouldn't have seen this had it not been part of a Summer Game badge. Thank you!)