This Event Will Reveal Everything About ‘Clockwork Orange’ Author’s Time In Malta
Anthony Burgess, the celebrated British writer behind classic novels like A Clockwork Orange, infamously spent a few years living in Malta, before being run out by encroaching government censorship. Having moved to Lija with his wife in 1968, he penned the novel Earthly Powers while here, and used Lija as the conservative neighbourhood that the novel is set in.
He even composed an original piano score called Ġigġifogu, inspired by the Lija fireworks that he would hear in his house.
Anthony Burgess, possibly listening to some petards
In 1970, he presented a lecture titles ‘Obscenity and the Arts’ at the University of Malta. Needless to say, the Curia and Maltese intelligentsia were not pleased, forcing Burgess to leave Malta soon after. Then, in 1974, the Maltese Government officially confiscated his house, leading Burgess to say that “Malta will remain a good place for young Maltese….to get out of.”
This year, 100 years from his birth, and nearly 50 years from his stay in Malta, the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Malta together with the Strada Stretta Concept, under the auspices of the Valletta 2018 Foundation, will be hosting a three-day event dedicated to the man.
Anthony Burgess and Malta: Music, Literature, Film will include a screening of Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange, a symposium and discussion on Burgess’ Malta experience, and the world-premiere of piano scores – including Ġigġifogu, performed by Tom Armitage.
The events will be held over three days in various locations so make sure you check out the timetable. Entrance is free for all events.
Do you think Anthony Burgess was treated improperly when in Malta? Are you a fan of his work? Let us know in the comments.
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