A Clockwork Orange
A Clockwork Orange is a dystopian satirical black comedy novel by English writer Anthony Burgess, published in 1962. It is set in a near-future society that has a youth subculture of extreme violence. The teenage protagonist, Alex, narrates his violent exploits and his experiences with state authorities intent on reforming him. The book is partially written in a Russian-influenced argot called "Nadsat", which takes its name from the Russian suffix that is equivalent to '-teen' in English. According to Burgess, it was a jeu d'esprit written in just three weeks. In 2005, A Clockwork Orange was included on Time magazine's list of the 100 best English-language novels written since 1923, and it was named by Modern Library and its readers as one of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. The original manuscript of the book has been kept at McMaster University's William Ready Division of Archives and Research Collections in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada since the institution purchased the documents in 1971. It is considered one of the most influential dystopian books. ---------- Also contained in: [A Clockwork Orange and Honey for the Bears](https://openlibrary
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What you might want to know about A Clockwork Orange
The questions readers send us most often, answered without spoilers.
Alex and his three droogs spend their nights on ultra-violence in a near-future London. After a botched home invasion lands him in prison, the state offers him an experimental cure that will rewrite who he is.
Yes, initially. Anthony Burgess wrote much of the dialogue in Nadsat, a teen slang derived from Russian and Cockney English. Most readers adjust within the first chapter, and many editions include a glossary. The novel is short at under 200 pages.
Stanley Kubrick's 1971 film is largely faithful to the novel but omits the original final chapter, in which Alex matures and chooses to leave violence behind. The American edition Kubrick adapted from also lacked that chapter, leaving the film's ending darker than Burgess intended.
A Clockwork Orange has been challenged in many American schools and libraries for its violence, sexual content, and language. The film was withdrawn from UK release for decades at Kubrick's request. The novel remains widely read and studied.
A Clockwork Orange was written by Anthony Burgess, published in 1962 by Penguin Books, Limited.
A Clockwork Orange is 192 pages in standard print editions, though page counts vary slightly between hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats.
At an average reading pace of about 250 words per minute, A Clockwork Orange takes most readers 3 to 4 hours to finish.
A Clockwork Orange is a standalone novel by Anthony Burgess, not part of a series.
A Clockwork Orange is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from Amazon, Bookshop.org, ThriftBooks, and most major bookstores.
