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A Clockwork Orange
by Burgess, Anthony
- Used
- near fine
- first
- Condition
- Near Fine/Near Fine
- Seller
-
Pasadena, California, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London: Heinemann, 1962. First edition. Near Fine/Near Fine. A Near Fine copy in the publisher's original black cloth, a few white scuff marks on the rear board. In a Near Fine first issue dust jacket with deeper flaps and the original price of 16s on the lower front flap. Two small punctures to the front panel and one to the front flap. A striking copy of this controversial novel that became an equally controversial film.
A story that raises questions about crime, punishment, and human nature. Setting out in a London of the future, Alex seeks thrills and entertainment by committing "a little of the old ultraviolence" on other citizens of the city. Following a particularly violent episode, Alex is jailed and submits to a new form of physical and psychological punishment that will affect his own humanity for the rest of his life. "A Clockwork Orange is Anthony Burgess' most famous novel, and its impact on literary, musical, and visual culture has been extensive. The novel is concerned with the conflict between the individual and the state, the punishment of young criminals, and the possibility of redemption" (Burgess Foundation). Near Fine in Near Fine dust jacket.
A story that raises questions about crime, punishment, and human nature. Setting out in a London of the future, Alex seeks thrills and entertainment by committing "a little of the old ultraviolence" on other citizens of the city. Following a particularly violent episode, Alex is jailed and submits to a new form of physical and psychological punishment that will affect his own humanity for the rest of his life. "A Clockwork Orange is Anthony Burgess' most famous novel, and its impact on literary, musical, and visual culture has been extensive. The novel is concerned with the conflict between the individual and the state, the punishment of young criminals, and the possibility of redemption" (Burgess Foundation). Near Fine in Near Fine dust jacket.
Synopsis
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).
Reviews
On Dec 18 2015, a reader said:
One of the worst books ever! this is sick.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Whitmore Rare Books
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 4582
- Title
- A Clockwork Orange
- Author
- Burgess, Anthony
- Book Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Near Fine
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First edition
- Publisher
- Heinemann
- Place of Publication
- London
- Date Published
- 1962
Terms of Sale
Whitmore Rare Books
15 day return guarantee, with full refund if an item arrives damaged or not matching the description.
About the Seller
Whitmore Rare Books
Biblio member since 2009
Pasadena, California
About Whitmore Rare Books
We operate a retail shop in "Old Town" Pasadena open normal business hours Tuesday through Saturday.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Cloth
- "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Flap(s)
- The portion of a book cover or cover jacket that folds into the book from front to back. The flap can contain biographical...
- New
- A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...
- Jacket
- Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps...
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