One Hand Clapping: A Novel [Paperback]

Anthony Burgess (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1999 | Series: Burgess, Anthony

With film rights acquired by Francis Ford Coppola, this comic novel of instant riches is back in stock. From the author of A Clockwork Orange, One Hand Clapping is a comedy of game shows and greed, high stakes and the high life. The tragi-comedy of used car salesman Howard Shirley, his photographic brain, and the modern world's trivia and trivialities makes for vintage Burgess—at once hilarious and provocative. "Witty and shrewdly joyful."—The New York Times Book Review "A funny, pointed novel."—The New Yorker "Ingeniously and devilishly funny."—The Atlantic Monthly

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Anthony Burgess is the author of more than fifty works of fiction and nonfiction, among them A Clockwork Orange, A Dead Man in Deptford, the critically acclaimed Byrne, and One Man's Chorus.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (July 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786706317
• ISBN-13: 978-0786706310
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #238,288 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Anthony Burgess (25th February 1917-22nd November 1993) was one of the UK's leading academics and most respected literary figures. A prolific author, during his writing career Burgess found success as a novelist, critic, composer, playwright, screenwriter, travel writer, essayist, poet and librettist, as well as working as a translator, broadcaster, linguist and educationalist. His fiction also includes NOTHING LIKE THE SUN, a recreation of Shakespeare's love-life, but he is perhaps most famous for the complex and controversial novel A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, exploring the nature of evil. Born in Manchester, he spent time living in Southeast Asia, the USA and Mediterranean Europe as well as in England, until his death in 1993.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful - why isn't this book more well-known?, August 8, 1999

By 

David Sticher ([e-mail]) (Glenville, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Hand Clapping: A Novel (Paperback)

_One Hand Clapping_ is that rarity, a truly rousing, dark, and hilarious satire which doesn't get lost by either being too silly or too dark. An excellent compromise, with an added bonus of not uncovering its true point until around the end. I can't help but sympathize with poor Burgess, whose entire life's work was defined by _A Clockwork Orange_; while that, too, is an excellent work, he has so much more in his back catalogue than just droogs and moloko!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a slap at the "who wants to be a millionaire?" crowd, September 19, 2000

By 

lazza (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Hand Clapping: A Novel (Paperback)

One Hand Clapping is a short, bitterly humorous look at a British working-class couple who strive to win a fortune on a TV quiz show, then spend their fortune in a rather peculiar fashion. Although Once Hand Clapping was written in the early 1960s it's satiric message still rings true. I loved it.

However this novel is not for everyone. Firstly, the book has a very British feel about it. Much of the wording is not used in America, and is even distinctly old-fashioned here in England. But otherwise One Hand Clapping is an excellent introduction to the brilliant world of Anthony Burgess.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book!, September 7, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Hand Clapping: A Novel (Paperback)

I can't disagree more with [e-mail]. *One Hand Clapping* is a terrific book, funny, profound, and memorable. Although I read it several years ago, I think about quite a lot -- and remember quite vidily the pleasure I had reading it. I highly recommend it to both Burgess fans and those who have never read him, or think he just wrote *Clockwork Orange.* It's good to see *One Hand Clapping* is still in print.