Skip to content

A Clockwork Orange
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

A Clockwork Orange Mass market paperbound - 1983

by Anthony Burgess


About this book

Anthony Burgess wrote more than 40 novels, but A Clockwork Orange is certainly his most famous. The novel is set in a not-too-distant future English society, namely characterized by a subculture of extreme youth violence. Alex, the unapologetic teenaged protagonist, narrates his exploits and experiences with state authorities intent on reforming him. This narration — in a fictional slang called nadsat — is an experiment in language, combining elements of Russian and Cockney English. In fact, the title of the novel itself is taken from an old Cockney expression: “As queer as a clockwork orange.”

The US edition of the novel was published without the final chapter, in which Alex grows up to renounce violence. Burgess strongly disapproved of the decision, arguing that it distorted the novel into a tale of unredeemable evil — far from the author’s original intention. Ironically, the US edition of A Clockwork Orange became a cult classic and was used by Stanley Kubrick for his 1971 film adaptation.

A Clockwork Orange is ranked 65th on Modern Library’s “100 Best” English-language novels of the 20th century. It is also listed in TIME’s “100 Best Novels” (since 1923).

First line

'WHAT'S it going to be then, eh?'

First Edition Identification

William Heinemann first published A Clockwork Orange in London in 1962. Barry Trangrove designed the original first edition dust jacket, which has wide flaps and is priced 16s. (The second issue has trimmed flaps and is re-priced 18s). Signed copies of the first edition have sold for upwards of $12,500.

Details

  • Title A Clockwork Orange
  • Author Anthony Burgess
  • Binding Mass Market Paperbound
  • Edition 26th Printing
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Ballantine Books, New York, NY, U.S.A.
  • Date July 12, 1983
  • ISBN 9780345314833 / 0345314832
  • Weight 0.21 lbs (0.10 kg)
  • Reading level 1310
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 00000000
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC
Back to Top

More Copies for Sale

A Clockwork Orange

A Clockwork Orange

by Anthony Burgess

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780345314833
ISBN 10
0345314832
Quantity Available
3
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$15.51
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Random House Publishing Group, 1983. Mass Market Paperback. Acceptable. Disclaimer:A readable copy. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. Pages can include considerable notes-in pen or highlighter-but the notes cannot obscure the text. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
A$15.51
FREE shipping to USA
A Clockwork Orange

A Clockwork Orange

by Burgess, Anthony

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good.
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780345314833
ISBN 10
0345314832
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Clayton, Missouri, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$32.15A$27.34
Save A$4.82!
A$7.38 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Ballantine Books, 1983. Mass-market paperback. Good.. Mass market (rack) paperback. Glued binding. Audience: General/trade.
Item Price
A$32.15A$27.34
Save A$4.82 !
A$7.38 shipping to USA