"The Manchurian Candidate" is a political thriller novel written by Richard Condon, published in 1959. The story revolves around a former Korean War soldier, Raymond Shaw, who is brainwashed by enemy forces to become an unwitting assassin. As he returns home, he struggles with his memories and the influence of his manipulative mother, who has her own agenda. The novel explores themes of manipulation, control, and the impact of war on the human psyche. It has been adapted into two films, one in 1962 and another in 2004, both of which highlight the dangers of political conspiracy and the fragility of free will.