A Clockwork Orange
by Burgess, Anthony
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 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.
Other Collectible or Notable Editions
W.W. Norton Company, Inc. published the first US edition of A Clockwork Orange — without the final chapter — in New York in 1963. This 184-page edition’s dust jacket states its original price of $3.95 on front flap of jacket. It wasn’t until 1987 that Norton published the “New American Edition,” complete with the final chapter.
In 2012, Norton published a 50th anniversary edition of the novel featuring the original British cover and six of Burgess’s own illustrations.
Reviews
Review this book!
One of the worst books ever! this is sick.
Available Copies
A Clockwork Orange
by Anthony Burgess
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Published
- 1963
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Tomball, Texas, USA
- Item Price
-
€1,404.45
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A Clockwork Orange
by Burgess, Anthony
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- 1st
- Published
- 1963
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Pasadena, California, USA
- Item Price
-
€1,863.24
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A Clockwork Orange: xxiii (Penguin Modern Classics)
by Burgess, Anthony
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0141182601
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
- Item Price
-
€1.69
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A Clockwork Orange
by Burgess, Anthony
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1962
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Portland, Oregon, USA
- Item Price
-
€3,932.46
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A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. [Collector's Custom Clamshell case only - Not a book]
by Burgess, Anthony
- Condition
- Used
- Edition
- 1st Edition Clamshell Collector's Case
- Published
- 1962
- Binding
- NO BINDING
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Montreal, Quebec, CAN
- Item Price
-
€210.67
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A Clockwork Orange
by Anthony Burgess
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Edition
- First edition
- Published
- 1962
- Binding
- Cloth
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
BATH, Somerset, GBR
- Item Price
-
€4,663.76
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A Clockwork Orange
by Anthony Burgess
- Condition
- Used; Good
- Published
- 01/25/1972
- Binding
- Mass Market Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0140032193
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
London, Greater London, GBR
- Item Price
-
€4.12
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A Clockwork Orange
by Anthony Burgess
- Condition
- Used; Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0140032193
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
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Milton Keynes , Buckinghamshire, GBR
- Item Price
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€4.11
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A Clockwork Orange
by Burgess, Anthony
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Edition
- First Paperback Printing
- Published
- 1965
- Binding
- Paperback
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Maplewood, Missouri, USA
- Item Price
-
€79.59
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A Clockwork Orange
by Anthony Burgess
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good Indeed
- Edition
- First edition
- Published
- 1962
- Binding
- Cloth
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
BATH, Somerset, GBR
- Item Price
-
€8,855.25
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A Clockwork Orange
by Burgess, Anthony
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine with No dust jacket as issued
- Published
- 2005
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10
- 1568495110
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Item Price
-
€44.90
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A Clockwork Orange
by Burgess, Anthony
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Good
- Edition
- Reprint
- Published
- 1982
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10
- 0434098000
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Hamilton, Ontario, CAN
- Item Price
-
€28.87
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A Clockwork Orange
by Burgess, Anthony
- Condition
- Used - Black boards. Fine in fine dust jacket
- Edition
- First edition
- Published
- 1962
- Binding
- [viii], 196 pp. 1 vols. 8vo
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
New York, New York, USA
- Item Price
-
€9,363.00
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A Clockwork Orange
by Burgess, Anthony
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1962
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Portland, Oregon, USA
- Item Price
-
€1,170.38
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A Clockwork Orange
by Burgess, Anthony
- Condition
- Used - vg++
- Published
- 1972
- ISBN 10
- 0140032193
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Westbury, Wiltshire, GBR
- Item Price
-
€4.66
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A Clockwork Orange
by Anthony Burgess
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good Indeed
- Edition
- First edition
- Published
- 1962
- Binding
- Cloth
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
BATH, Somerset, GBR
- Item Price
-
€2,597.54
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A Clockwork Orange
by BURGESS, Anthony
- Condition
- Used
- Edition
- 1st Edition, 2nd Printing
- Published
- 1970
- Binding
- HARDCOVER
- ISBN 10
- 0434098000
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
London, London, GBR
- Item Price
-
€1,441.78
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A Clockwork Orange
by Burgess, Anthony
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1962
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Didcot, Oxfordshire, GBR
- Item Price
-
€2,656.58
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A Clockwork Orange
by Anthony Burgess
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Edition
- Reprint
- Published
- 1990
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0140032193
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Kidderminster, Worcestershire, GBR
- Item Price
-
€5.90
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Clockwork Orange
by Burgess, Anthony
- Condition
- Used - Fair
- Published
- 1972
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0140032193
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Tacoma, Washington, USA
- Item Price
-
€4.68