A Clockwork Orange
Published in 1962, A Clockwork Orange is a clockwork fiction and adventure fiction novel by Anthony Burgess. Much of the action takes place in England and Korova Milk Bar. It features Ludwig van Beethoven, Alex and George. Key subjects include Bible, aversion therapy, unintended consequences and Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.
Open Library readers give it an average of 4.0 out of 5 from 69 ratings, and 1,024 more have it on their want-to-read list. It has been published in 145 editions across 12 languages.
It runs to roughly 192 pages — 3–4 hours of reading at an average pace.
About 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.
Awards & lists
- 🏆Hugo Awards 1972 — Best Dramatic Presentation (winner)
Quick answers
Who wrote A Clockwork Orange?
A Clockwork Orange was written by Anthony Burgess and first published in 1962.
What genre is A Clockwork Orange?
It is usually shelved as Clockwork & Automata and Adventure.
How long is A Clockwork Orange?
The median edition has 192 pages, about 3–4 hours of reading at 250 words per minute.
What books are similar to A Clockwork Orange?
Readers who like it often enjoy STORM, The Time Machine and Luces de Septiembre.
More by Anthony Burgess
All books →
Earthly Powers
Anthony Burgess
Byrne
Anthony Burgess
Books like A Clockwork Orange
STORM
E. L. Young
- FREE🎧
The Time Machine
H. G. Wells
Luces de Septiembre
Carlos Ruiz Zafón
- FREE🎧
Owen Clancy's Run of Luck; or, The Motor Wizard in the Garage
Burt L. Standish
- FREE
Jack Wright and His Electric Stage; or, Leagued Against the James Boys
Luis Senarens
- FREE🎧
Tom Sawyer Abroad
Mark Twain
City of Bones
Cassandra Clare
Tempt Me at Twilight
Lisa Kleypas