The novel is set in a strange, dystopian future and focusses on the character of Alex, its 15 year old anti-hero, who spends his free time indulging in ultra-violence, theft, rape and listening ecstatically to classical music. What's amazing about the novel is that Burgess gradually manages to make the reader become so sympathetic to him throughout the book - Alex is bright, witty, defiant; openly confiding his thoughts and feelings to his audience - his "brothers". When the state fiinally catches up with him, locks him, and then starts altering him with the morally dodgy "Ludovico Technique" one can't help but side with him against his 'doctors'.

Part of the book's genius is the fact it's written so beautifully and laid out. Burgess's surreal use of language is incredibly ingenious. He creates the wonderful 'nadsat' slang spoken by Alex and his friends (or 'droogs') through a combination of Russian and different styles of English. As a student of Russian, part of the fun was deciphering the words and sentences, working out the book and storyline as I went along. If at first the book doesn't make sense then just persevere - gradually things will become more coherant and the language suddenly gells and makes sense.

Ultimately, this thought-provoking novel left me with lots to muse about. Questions on morality, society and, most importantly, an individual's free choice are brought up and it's left with the reader to ultimately decide what s/he thinks. The book jacket described this novel as 'one that every generation should read'. I really couldn't agree more!


Tricky   February 5, 2005
 5 out of 6 found this review helpful

The kind of book you hear about, the kind of book you believe you really ought to make sure you have read. No problem with that.

However, for many people this book will present itself as very difficult to get a grasp of, it its tricky to make it flow and its certainly not the kind of book to read at night with tired eyes.

Readers of classics will undoubtedly be more suited to getting the most out of this as they will be more adept at drawing out the meaning of the language. The younger reader may well find difficulty in turning the Russian, English and plain invented language into the story.

I enjoyed it, as a read, though the story is hard to enjoy. Its dark and deep and it in no way hides these facts. Its a story that stands out there tall and proud and shouts "Read me if you dare, seek me if you are foolish".

I wont go into the story, as I believe other reviewers have done a fine job.

All that is left to say is that, despite seeming that way, there was no chance this would have a happy ending, too much had gone before and too many things stick in the mind to close on a high note.

An important piece of writing.