On the Road with Penguin Classics

A Clockwork Orange with Jeff Noon and Andrew Biswell

Dec 14, 2023

In this engaging discussion, Jeff Noon, an award-winning novelist known for his cult classic Vurt, joins Andrew Biswell, a professor and Burgess biographer, to explore the legacy of Anthony Burgess. They traverse East Sussex, visiting key locations related to A Clockwork Orange. Topics include the chaotic language and violence in the novel, Burgess's relationship with alcohol and music, and the ethical dilemmas of control and free will. Their insights reveal the profound cultural impact of Burgess's work and its relevance today.

01:17:20

Creator website

Episode guests

Andrew Biswell

Jeff Noon

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The podcast explores how Anthony Burgess's 'A Clockwork Orange' uniquely blends ultraviolence with the inventive Nadsat dialect to reflect youthful rebellion.

Discussion highlights the novel's cultural impact across various art forms, influencing music, film, and fashion, showcasing its lasting legacy.

A significant theme in the narrative involves a philosophical debate on free will and morality, particularly regarding state intervention in personal choices.

Deep dives

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Intro

5min

The Vital Role of Manchester in Shaping Narratives

3min

Chaos, Creativity, and Language in 'A Clockwork Orange'

24min

Burgess, Alcohol, and the Complexity of Music

9min

Consequences and Ethical Dilemmas in 'A Clockwork Orange'

4min

The Ethics of Control in 'A Clockwork Orange'

14min

Echoes of Violence and Redemption

19min

Reflections on 'A Clockwork Orange' and Its Enduring Impact

3min

Anthony Burgess in East Sussex. On the 30th anniversary of Burgess’s death, the science fiction author Jeff Noon and the biographer Andrew Biswell travel East Sussex with Henry, visiting the rented flat where Burgess began writing A Clockwork Orange, O my brothers, and the quiet village where he finished it, taking in a pub, a prison, ultra violence, nadsat, brainwashing and Beethoven.

Penguin Classics ‘Restored Edition’ of A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess, edited by Andrew Biswell

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/182137/a-clockwork-orange-by-burgess-anthony/9780141197531

https://apple.co/41d2sHC

Penguin Audio edition of A Clockwork Orange, read by Tom Hollander

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/384903/a-clockwork-orange-by-anthony-burgess/9781407058542

https://apple.co/3Te9HNy

Jeff Noon

http://jeffnoon.weebly.com/

Vurt by Jeff Noon (30th anniversary edition)

https://angryrobotbooks.com/books/vurt/

Andrew Biswell

https://www.mmu.ac.uk/staff/profile/professor-andrew-biswell