The Secret Agent

Richard Hanania on Conrad's Nostromo, Latin American Crime, and Populism

Conversations with Tyler, 4 November 2026. The book comes up at 23 min 1 sec in.

Richard Hanania says he read The Secret Agent as part of his Conrad preparation and found it about how 'pathetic and Manal' the terrorists are—meant to seem exciting but instead a crummy story of idiots. Both speakers briefly discuss the story's tragic arc, particularly the wife's fate at the ending.

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