Danger and violence have always been part of Sue Dalston's East End upbringing. Unlovedby her mother, abused by her father, and brutalised throughout her entire marriage, she smashed her husband's skull with a claw hammer in a final act of desperation. All thatkeeps her sane is the knowledge that her four children are safe from harm. When she is celled up with the murderess Mathilda Enderby, their fates become inextricable linked and no-one, least of all Sue, could have predicted the consequences.
Anthony Burgess - The Complete Enderby The Complete Enderby : Inside Mr. Enderby, Enderby Outside, the Clockwork Testament, Enderby's Dark Lady
"Inside Mr. Enderby," is wonderful and off beat. "Enderby Outside,"
follows the off kilter story of Enderby and the absurdity that is his
life. "The Clockwork Testament," as the title would suggest, has
shadings of Burgess' very well known book, "Clockwork Orange." The
"Testament," is surreal and twisted while funny at the same time. The
final story, "Enderby's Dark Lady," is wonderful and surprising to the
reader with value not only for fans of the dyspeptic poet but lovers of
Shakespeare as well.
While slightly dated, these stories have a bite to them that
speaks volumes of truth for anyone who has been an academic, a
professional writer or just a little bit out of touch with the world
around them. Enderby is often misunderstood and though he makes his
living in a "communication" field, he has a lot of trouble getting his
point across to others.
Not only are these books funny, but as is often the case with
Burgess, the satire is thinly veiled and pointing at both society and
himself.