A terrifying tale about good and evil and the meaning of human freedom, A Clockwork Orange became an instant classic when it was published in 1962 and has remained so ever since. Anthony Burgess takes us on a journey to a nightmarish future where sociopathic criminals rule the night. Brilliantly told in harsh invented slang by the novel's main character and merciless droog, fifteen-year-old Alex, this influential novel is now available in a student edition. The Norton Critical Edition of A Clockwork Orange is based on ...
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A terrifying tale about good and evil and the meaning of human freedom, A Clockwork Orange became an instant classic when it was published in 1962 and has remained so ever since. Anthony Burgess takes us on a journey to a nightmarish future where sociopathic criminals rule the night. Brilliantly told in harsh invented slang by the novel's main character and merciless droog, fifteen-year-old Alex, this influential novel is now available in a student edition. The Norton Critical Edition of A Clockwork Orange is based on the first British edition and includes Burgess's original final chapter. It is accompanied by Mark Rawlinson's preface, explanatory annotations, and textual notes. A glossary of the Russian-origin terms that inspired Alex's dialect is provided to illustrate the process by which Burgess arrived at the distinctive style of this novel. "Backgrounds and Contexts" presents a wealth of materials chosen by the editor to enrich the reader's understanding of this unforgettable work, many of them by Burgess himself. Burgess's views on writing A Clockwork Orange, its philosophical issues, and the debates over the British edition versus the American edition and the novel versus the film adaptation are all included. Related writings that speak to some of the novel's central issues-youthful style, behavior modification, and art versus morality-are provided by Paul Rock and Stanley Cohen, B. F. Skinner, John R. Platt, Joost A. M. Meerloo, William Sargent, and George Steiner. "Criticism" is divided into two sections, one addressing the novel and the other Stanley Kubrick's film version. Five major reviews of the novel are reprinted along with a wide range of scholarly commentary, including, among others, David Lodge on the American reader; Julie Carson on linguistic invention; Zinovy Zinik on Burgess and the Russian language; Geoffrey Sharpless on education, masculinity, and violence; Shirley Chew on circularity; Patrick Parrinder on dystopias; Robbie B. H. Goh on language and social control; and Steven M. Cahn on freedom. A thorough analysis of the film adaptation of A Clockwork Orange is provided in reviews by Vincent Canby, Pauline Kael, and Christopher Ricks; in Philip Strick and Penelope Houston's interview with Stanley Kubrick; and in interpretive essays by Don Daniels, Alexander Walker, Philip French, Thomas Elsaesser, Tom Dewe Mathews, and Julian Petley. A Selected Bibliography is also included.
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Add this copy of A Clockwork Orange to cart. $4.99, good condition, Sold by GreatBookPrices rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Columbia, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2010 by W. W. Norton & Company.
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Good. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 368 p. Norton Critical Editions. May show signs of wear, highlighting, writing, and previous use. This item may be a former library book with typical markings. No guarantee on products that contain supplements Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Twenty-five year bookseller with shipments to over fifty million happy customers.
Add this copy of A Clockwork Orange (Norton Critical Editions) to cart. $5.00, very good condition, Sold by Hippo Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Toledo, OH, UNITED STATES, published 2011 by W. W. Norton & Company.
Add this copy of A Clockwork Orange (Norton Critical Editions) to cart. $5.00, good condition, Sold by Hippo Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Toledo, OH, UNITED STATES, published 2011 by W. W. Norton & Company.
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Good. All pages and cover are intact. Possible slightly loose binding, minor highlighting and marginalia, cocked spine or torn dust jacket. Maybe an ex-library copy and not include the accompanying CDs, access codes or other supplemental materials.
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I saw the movie pictures and review in Playboy magazine back when it first came out when I was young. I then saw the movie when I was much older and then wanted to read and see what differences there where in the two. The movie is basically the narration of the book except for the part with the body guard (who is David Prowse [Darth Vader]). It?s hard to understand the slang, so you should print out a copy of the translations too help with it. If you really loved the movie read the book other wise you won?t miss much. Its hard to get into so its not a good idea to start and stop.
Leon337
Apr 8, 2010
the 21st chapter
I read clockwork Orange years ago and loved the slang gang talk. What I was looking for here was the 21st chapter that was not in any of the U.S. published versions. For those who don't know, Burgess wrote the final chapter after there were reports of copycat gang violence said to be instigated by the book and movie. The final chapter is the personal conversion of Alex after he realizes the errors of his ways without help of drugs or therapy. I think it was more an attempt by Burgess to redeem himself and not Alex and that is how it reads. I recommend this version only if you would like to know more about the conscience of Burgess and not our beloved Droogie, Alex.
Maggy
Apr 15, 2009
A friend recommended this book to me, and I very much enjoyed it. At first, it was difficult to follow, due to the author's way of telling the story in Nadsat (slang used by teenagers in the novel), but, after I found a glossary of the words, it was a lot easier to read. The story is powerful, perhaps even more so because of the language in which it is told; it is very provocative, and raises many moralistic questions that are prevalent in today's society. A timeless book, and one that would probably be better the second time around.
Alissa
Mar 7, 2009
A magnificent book
A Clockwork Orange is a frightening and disturbing look at a world that does not yet exist, told by a narrator who speaks in a slang-filled voice. The book grabs hold of you on page one and does not let go. It is a magnificent book.
I suppose it falls under the genre heading of dystopian literature, and certainly comparisons can be drawn between A Clockwork Orange and works like 1984 or Brave New World, but Burgess's story is on a smaller scale. The dystopian society depicted in A Clockwork Orange is really the backdrop for the age old tale of growing up.
It's interesting to think that Burgess might never have written this story, which has become a literary classic, if he hadn't been wrongly diagnosed with a brain tumor. It's a strange world that we live in, perhaps just as strange as the world depicted in A Clockwork Orange.
Selina
Oct 21, 2007
Violent
Burgess wrote this novel in the slang of the future. The author chose to use a lot of Roma(Gypsy) slang. The distinctive voice of Alex draws the reader in. Alex is cruel and extremely violent. Burgess also did a fine job of turning Alex into a victim. The book is better than the movie. The last chapter is not shown in the movie and that's a shame. In the last chapter Alex comes to the realization that he has wasted his life. He does not want to be a middle aged thug and takes a good hard look at himself. He repents and is determined to change. Redemption and hope are unexpected elements in a novel concerned with violence and revenge. "ClockWork Orange" is a masterpeice.
Its nice that a dictionary is in back. Alex uses a ton of slang and while most of their uses are clear some are confusing. Looking up the words really helps the reader along.
