In 2017, the Manchester University Press (publishing arm of his alma mater), began issuing “The Irwell Edition of the Works of Anthony Burgess,” a series of scholarly editions of his works. He was, in the words of Erica Jong, “one of the most versatile artists of the English language.” (“ Anthony Burgess and the Music of Love” The Washington Post, November 16, 1986.) Additionally, he left behind more than 250 musical compositions and countless newspaper and magazine articles. When he died in 1993, he had authored more than 50 works of fiction and non-fiction: novels, short stories, literary criticism and biographies. Ironically, he outlived his (first) wife by more than 25 years. I had no great desire to leave a literary name behind me.” ( Paris Review 48, Spring 1973) Burgess had no pension to speak of and was concerned that he not leave his wife destitute.īy the end of 1963, he had published an additional nine books, including A Clockwork Orange, the book that would make him famous. “The fact is that my wife and I needed to eat and so on, and the only job I could do (who would employ me?) was writing. Having published three novels previously, he found himself unemployed and facing death. In 1958, Anthony Burgess collapsed while teaching in Brunei and was (mis)diagnosed with a brain tumor.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |