"The Wages of Fear" is a novel by French author Georges Arnaud, published in 1950. The story follows four desperate men who are hired to transport a dangerous cargo of nitroglycerin across treacherous South American terrain. The journey tests their courage and resolve as they face numerous obstacles and the constant threat of death. Set against a backdrop of poverty and desperation, the novel explores themes of risk, survival, and the human condition. The characters' motivations and moral dilemmas highlight the lengths people will go to for money and the consequences of their choices in a harsh world.