THE FOLIO SOCIETY

The sullen, indolent Mr Verloc sells shady wares from his Soho shop; but at night, he is host to 'The Future of the Proletariat', a disorganised group of half-baked anarchists. Unknown to them, however, Verloc is a secret agent - not only does he work as a terrorist for the Russian embassy, but he also sells the secrets of the anarchists to Scotland Yard. His unprincipled life reaches its nadir when his paymasters instruct him to shock the people of Britain out of their complacency by blowing up Greenwich Observatory. The only candidate Verloc can think of to carry out the deed is his innocent, half-witted brother-in-law.

Conrad's ironic portrayal of London's underworld grew out of strong feelings; the central events of the story really happened, and the exploitation, amorality and greed that he saw provoked Conrad into writing one of his most chilling novels, one that evokes a gaslit London world of secrets, whispers and dangerous shadows.