Inside Anthony Burgess is a podcast that explores the writing of the author of A Clockwork Orange. Taking in both his fiction and non-fiction, we feature one of his books in each episode, discussing Burgess’s inspirations, his thematic interests, his literary techniques and more.

This first episode starts at the beginning with The Malayan Trilogy, a sequence which contains Burgess’s first three published novels: Time for a Tiger (1956), The Enemy in the Blanket (1958), and Beds in the East (1959). To discuss these novels Andrew Biswell is joined by Ida Baizura Bahar, senior lecturer in English at Universiti Putra Malaysia.

The trilogy tells the story of Victor Crabbe, an education officer in the Colonial Service, who arrives in Malaya to teach at the ‘Eton of the East’. Through Crabbe and the diverse cast of characters surrounding him, Burgess gives a unique view of the colonial experience at the end of Empire.

Ida Baizura Bahar is senior lecturer in English at Universiti Putra Malaysia and has written the book Beyond Malaya: Visions of Bangsa Malaysia in The Malayan Trilogy by Anthony Burgess.

Books mentioned in this episode:

By Anthony Burgess:

• Time for a Tiger (1956)
• The Enemy in the Blanket (1958)
• Beds in the East (1959)
• A Clockwork Orange (1962)

You can buy these books at the Burgess Foundation’s affiliate store on Bookshop.org, which helps support our charitable work.

You can listen to Inside Anthony Burgess on your audio platform of choice (Apple Podcasts / Spotify/ YouTube), or use the streaming links below.

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