My Life In Books: Juliette Rowsell

A Clockwork Orange – Anthony Burgess

Anyone who knows me knows about my passion for Burgess’ dystopian work of art, A Clockwork Orange. They will be sick to death of me going on about Burgess’ innovative use of language, his ability to brainwash the reader and, above all, his ability to make us sympathise with a protagonist who enjoys nothing more than a ‘good-lashing of ultra-violence’ and ‘the old in-out in-out’ – rape.

Burgess’ novel truly taught me the power of language. With Burgess’ creation of an entirely new language – ‘nasdat’ – that readers are slowly indoctrinated with protagonist Alex’s twisted views as readers slowly acclimatise to the language. A book that is poignant to me as it was recommended by an English teacher after she found me in tears on the playground in Year 11, it has since been one of my favourite novels – even to the extent that I am completing my Extended Project Qualification on whether the book is deserving of its negative reputation (with the answer being no, just if you were wondering).  All I can say is to the little bitch that forced me into tears: cheers. Because without you, I wouldn’t have come across such an important novel.

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