| | His novel, ''The Secret Agent'' (1907), is the story of a gang of anarchist-revolutionaries in late 19th century [[London]]. One of them is paid by a foreign embassy to be an informer, but then is coerced into instigating a bombing in London; the motive force is the displeasure felt by the foreign embassy personnel that England is harbouring these individuals considered dangerous; the informer must find someone to plant the bomb. The person who makes the bombs is 'The Professor', whose life's dream is to perfect a reliable detonator, says of the USA, "...They have more character over there, and their character is essentially anarchistic. Fertile ground for us, the States--very good ground. The great Republic has the root of the destructive matter in her. The collective temperament is lawless. Excellent. They may shoot us down, but--"<ref>https://dailylit.com/read/98-the-secret-agent?page=21</ref> | | His novel, ''The Secret Agent'' (1907), is the story of a gang of anarchist-revolutionaries in late 19th century [[London]]. One of them is paid by a foreign embassy to be an informer, but then is coerced into instigating a bombing in London; the motive force is the displeasure felt by the foreign embassy personnel that England is harbouring these individuals considered dangerous; the informer must find someone to plant the bomb. The person who makes the bombs is 'The Professor', whose life's dream is to perfect a reliable detonator, says of the USA, "...They have more character over there, and their character is essentially anarchistic. Fertile ground for us, the States--very good ground. The great Republic has the root of the destructive matter in her. The collective temperament is lawless. Excellent. They may shoot us down, but--"<ref>https://dailylit.com/read/98-the-secret-agent?page=21</ref> |
| | + | {{cquote|Watching a coast as it slips by the ship is like thinking about an enigma. There it is before you, smiling, frowning, inviting, grand, mean, insipid, or savage, and always mute with an air of whispering, "Come and find out".}} |