Science Fiction · DarkFifteen-year-old Alex narrates his gang's violence and then the state's attempt to reform him
A Clockwork Orange
A teenage gang leader narrates his violence and the state's attempt to reform him
Alex is a 15-year-old gang leader who narrates in an invented slang called Nadsat, a mix of Russian-influenced words and Cockney rhyming slang. His gang includes Dim, Georgie and Pete. He describes his exploits and his later dealings with state authorities who want to reform him. The novel examines whether a person can be made good by removing their free will. William Heinemann published it on 17 March 1962.
More about this book
Who
Alex, who narrates, and his gang Dim, Georgie and Pete, with P. R. Deltoid and F. Alexander.
World
A near-future dystopian city.
What makes it different
The first American editions omitted the final chapter until 1986. Stanley Kubrick's 1971 film is based on the American edition.
Feel
Violent and inventive.
Page count and cover shown for: Selected edition
Further reading
- A Clockwork OrangeWikipedia