Appy polly loggy.
OBJECTS OF OBSESSION #6: A CLOCKWORK ORANGE
Reading and collecting books is a constant pleasure - I’m very fortunate to be able to walk to a used bookshop on my lunch breaks, and I make use of this convenience as often as I am able… or as often as I have money to spend on books, which is the main limiter, after shelf space to store them. I’ve gotten into the situation of having a tiny library in the boot of my car too, as space is at such a premium. Many of my most recent reads have been acquired on fortunate lunch breaks, but this one is from a little ways back, long before I had that convenience. I almost entirely gravitate to fiction when reading but within it I tend towards a variety of genres - dystopian fiction being one of my favourites.
Anthony Burgess’ novel, A Clockwork Orange (1962) is only a short read at about sixty thousand words, but within it he packs so much. The character of Alex, imprisoned for having committed murder and rape, is subject to an experimental form of therapy in order to rehabilitate him. The story follows Alex’s experiences as he grows through his formative years as an ultraviolent gang leader, moving through three distinct stages of this period, focusing on the terrible crimes he committed, his therapy, and the resultant repercussions, all told through the argot of himself and his contemporaries. What first struck me about the book, other than what I knew about it already was the cover (specifically of the one I had stumbled across), and although you’re not meant to judge a book by its cover, surely everyone does to some degree. Bad covers are off-putting, and a cover like this? Well it’s almost as iconic as the book itself. For the 1972 reprint, which was issued to coincide with the release of the film adaptation, a new cover was designed by David Pelham, and his cog-eyed droog is just as, if not more recognisable than the imagery of the film poster.
I had watched the film several years prior to finding the book, and although usually having watched an adaptation prior to reading the source, my imagination is augmented (sometimes unwantedly) by the imagery on screen, in this case, as I read through the book I found it sufficiently distinct as to allow my imagination to take over. I thought the film brilliant (as with all of Kubrick’s work), but I found reading the story for myself perhaps more impactful. During the time I was enduring dreaded visits to the JobCentre and having to put up with government enforced employment seeking courses - truly dystopian shit. Reading this book felt right, given the circumstances, and reading it during breaks in the aforementioned courses on Hove beach, the town in which Burgess penned some of the novel, felt quite serendipitous.
After reading the book, I revisited the film, and a love for the aesthetic and imagery of both grew within me. The cover of the book leaned framed against my wall, which I eagerly picked up in a local bookshop, and I even made an Alex costume from scratch, ordering all the individual pieces (including a handmade mask) online, combining them together into what I thought was the best Halloween costume one could wear (yes I was inspired partly by Bart Simpson). The mask, eyeball cufflinks, suspenders, and appropriate jockstrap being the most challenging things to find, with the chef trousers, grandfather shirt, bowler hat, cane, and German army boots being the easiest, thanks to eBay. I ended up using the costume two years running, and on the second, having travelled to London for a Halloween night out, my now wife, her friend, and her boyfriend ended up getting attacked in the club we were in, which looking back, seems comically appropriate, considering my dress. It started because our friend inadvertently got served before someone else, and that someone else had an unhinged partner who started throwing punches about upon hearing that this shocking event had taken place. Madness. Anyway, we left the club early and got some fried chicken, so Alex had to sit in a brightly lit fast-food joint with a bloodied (not from the fight) nurse, a witch, and a zombie - strange night… should have ended it with a glass of milk.
Aside from all that, I’m also partial to pin badge collecting, and as such, I accumulated a handful of these linked to the book and film. The soundtrack, and the music referenced within the book also struck me, as did Wendy Carlo’s incredible OST, inspired as it was by Beethoven and a harmony of clockwork, which I eventually managed to find on cassette.
Later, I was lucky enough to get tickets to see the Daydreaming with Stanley Kubrick exhibition at Somerset House in 2016, which featured, amongst many pieces inspired by Kurbric’s filmography, artworks inspired by A Clockwork Orange. Outside of the Lord of the Rings as a book and film combination, I don’t think another pair has made quite such an impact on me over the years, and my love for both iterations of A Clockwork Orange remains as strong as ever. And while you’re here, open your ookos and sloochat to this dobby starry zlook!
So there we go, a bit of a trip. If you’ve never read the book, I heartily recommend it. It’s a bit of work getting through Burgess’ slang, but well worth it, and only adds to the world building, bringing you deeper within Alex’s circle. Watch the film, too, if you haven’t, and also listen to the soundtrack - brilliant stuff.
As always, thank you for reading. If you’d like to support the blog, you can do so by subscribing and sharing!
Also, a big thank you to the TYPEDBYTOM Patreon/BMAC supporter(s) this month:
Fantastic collection. The framed book cover poster is very cool indeed.