A Clockwork Orange

 6b Anthony Burgess. London: Penguin Books, 1972. SIGNED

Notes

A Clockwork Orange, first published in 1962, is the groundbreaking dystopian novel by Anthony Burgess, exploring the relationship between free will, morality, violence, and the power of the state. Set in a futuristic Britain, the novel follows Alex, a charismatic and deeply troubled teenager whose enthusiasm for classical music is matched by his appetite for brutality and rebellion. After his arrest, Alex becomes the subject of an experimental psychological treatment designed to eliminate his capacity for violence, raising the central question of whether goodness has any meaning when an individual is deprived of the freedom to choose evil. Written in a remarkable invented teenage slang known as Nadsat, which draws heavily upon Russian and English, the novel challenges readers through its distinctive language and unsettling moral questions. Its international reputation was further established by Stanley Kubrick’s controversial 1971 film adaptation, securing its place among the most influential works of twentieth-century dystopian literature.

Even Burgess himself later, declared that he was “nauseated“ by the violence and found the book “two didactic to be artistic“.

Anthony Burgess (1917–1993) was an English novelist, composer, linguist, and literary critic whose extraordinary intellectual range shaped a prolific and unconventional literary career. Born John Anthony Burgess Wilson in Manchester, he studied English literature at the University of Manchester before serving in the British Army and later working as a teacher in Britain and Malaya. His fascination with language, music, theology, and human behavior informed much of his fiction, particularly A Clockwork Orange, which became his most celebrated work. A gifted linguist and accomplished composer, Burgess wrote more than thirty novels alongside works of literary criticism, biography, journalism, and music. Although frequently associated with the controversy surrounding Kubrick’s adaptation, Burgess regarded his literary achievements as extending far beyond a single novel.

The 1972 Penguin edition is particularly recognizable for David Pelham's iconic cover design, featuring a stylized face with a mechanical eye. Released around the time of Kubrick's film adaptation, it has become a celebrated paperback cover design.

Description 

Paperback with iconic cover design. Signed on title page with inscription, “(The last chapter is missing) To Kristian with kindest regards, Anthony Burgess, London, 8.2.90” and line drawing of a Clockwork Orange. Some slight edgewear with minor soiling and toning to the edges. Hinges delicate and slightly creased. Very good condition.