Joseph Conrad
The Secret Agent: what to read next?
Books close in genre, era, author or reading level, to read in bilingual editions.
G. K. ChestertonThe Man Who Was ThursdayGabriel Syme, a poet turned secret agent, infiltrates an anarchist group led by mysterious figures named after the days of the week. As his mission progresses, he discovers that reality is more complex than it seems and that each member hides his true identity. Between chases…Same countrySame genreSame era
G. K. ChestertonThe Wisdom of Father BrownTwelve detective stories by the English writer G. K. Chesterton, published in 1914. Father Brown, a small, absent-minded-looking Catholic priest, solves cases that baffle the police and the scientists, often with his friend Flambeau, a former criminal turned detective. A…Same countrySame genreSame era
Joseph ConradHeart of DarknessMarlow, an experienced sailor, travels up an African river in search of Kurtz, a mysterious agent of a trading company. As the journey progresses, he discovers a world marked by violence, exploitation, and moral ambiguity. The figure of Kurtz, both fascinating and disturbing,…By the same authorSame genreSame era
John Oliver HobbesRobert OrangeAn English novel, sequel to The School for Saints. London, 1869: Robert Orange, a young Catholic Member of Parliament of French descent and a protégé of Disraeli, marries Brigit, a young widow he loves with an almost mystical devotion. On the very day of the wedding, word comes…Same countrySame genreSame era
Friedrich NietzscheThus Spoke ZarathustraZarathustra, a solitary thinker, descends among men to share his vision of the world and to question established values. Through his speeches, he invites them to go beyond traditional beliefs and to create their own rules. His often provocative teaching pushes the reader to…Same genreSame era
Anatole FranceThe Red LilyJacques, a man torn between passion and disillusionment, maintains a complex relationship with Thérèse, a seductive and elusive woman. Their affair evolves through attraction, jealousy, and power games. In a refined social environment, feelings mingle with interests and…Same genreSame era
James JoycePortrait of the ArtistStephen, a sensitive and ambitious young man, grows up in an Ireland marked by religion and social conventions. Very early, he feels out of step with his environment and develops intense reflections on art, faith, and identity. His path is punctuated by doubts, revolts, and…Same genreSame era
George OrwellNineteen Eighty-FourIn the superstate of Oceania, Winston Smith rewrites the past for the Ministry of Truth while Big Brother watches every screen and every face. He begins to keep a diary, then falls in love with Julia, two acts that the Party counts as crimes. Their secret leads them towards a…Same countrySame genre
Franz KafkaThe TrialOne morning Josef K., a senior clerk at a bank, is arrested in his lodgings by two warders who tell him nothing of the charge and leave him free to go to work. The case proceeds without being explained to him, in the attic of a suburban tenement where a court sits among piles…Same genreSame era
Emma GoldmanAnarchism and Other EssaysEmma Goldman, a committed activist, develops a radical reflection on individual freedom, society, and power structures. Through her essays, she critiques political, economic, and social institutions, proposing an alternative vision based on autonomy and justice. Her ideas…Same genreSame era
Honoré de BalzacThe Wild Ass's SkinRuined and resolved to die, young Raphaël de Valentin walks into an antique shop, where the dealer gives him a wild ass's skin covered with signs. The talisman grants every wish of its owner, but it shrinks with each wish, and its master's life shrinks with it. Rich overnight,…Same genre
Friedrich NietzscheBeyond Good and EvilIn nine sections of aphorisms, Nietzsche attacks the prejudices of philosophers and their claim to a disinterested truth. He examines where moral values come from, distinguishes a master morality from a slave morality, and questions the religious certainties of his time. His…Same genreSame era