Book Review: A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

While many know the critically acclaimed movie, A Clockwork Orange, directed by Stanley Kubrick, they may not be aware that the film originated from a novel. A Clockwork Orange, written by Anthony Burgess, is a dystopian novel set shortly after World War 2. It follows a teenager named Alex rampaging through the violent youth culture of the time, and how state officials desire to reform him. The story raises questions about the balance between fate and free will, and whether anyone can truly change. The book is written in “nadsat”, a combination of Russian and English youth slang, creating a unique reading experience as the reader must decipher the slang’s meaning. Both the book and the movie feature the Nadsat language, but the book’s use of it is more pronounced. Although you can look up the meanings of the words, I found it more gratifying to attempt to figure them out on my own, as it provided an immersive experience once the language was understood. However, the presence of unfamiliar words makes reading the beginning sluggish. A Clockwork Orange creates a similar atmosphere to that of 1984 and Fahrenheit 451, so readers who enjoyed those books will likely enjoy this one as well. Thematically, I found parallels with Lord of the Flies, specifically the idea of “good” versus “bad”. Despite the challenges with the wording, the book was worth reading, as it was relatively short. Overall, I give the novel 4 out of 5 stars. Reviewed by Dylan C.