WIN $150 GIFT VOUCHERS: ALADDIN'S GOLD
Józef Teodor Konrad Nalecz Korzeniowski was born in the Ukraine on 3 December 1857. His parents were Polish and had both died in exile by the time Conrad was eleven. His uncle then became his guardian and looked after him in Krakow until he was sixteen when he went to sea and sailed on French and British ships. He was made British citizen in 1886 and changed his name to Joseph Conrad. In 1889 Conrad visited the Congo and his experiences there inspired Heart of Darkness. In 1894 he published his first novel, Almayer's Folly and went on to write nineteen more as well as many short stories, essays and a memoir. In 1896 he married Jessie George and they later had two sons. Conrad died on 3 August 1924.
Conrad wrote better books than The Secret Agent but he never wrote one more memorable. Once read, you can never forget it, yet there is hardly a redeeming feature to be found among its characters. Winnie is bovine, her mother stupid, both redeemed - just - by their devotion to the unfortunate Stevie. Mr Verloc is a dealer in pornography before he is a spy, a fat slothful man with an eye to the main chance. His wife murders him and he is at the brink of death before he realizes what is going on, so inflated is his ego. Review by RUTH RENDELL Editor's note: Ruth Rendell is the author of numerous books including A Sight for Sore Eyes. (Kirkus UK)
