You are here: Home / Daily BookShot / Daily Bookshot: A Clockwork Copper

Daily Bookshot: A Clockwork Copper

January 26, 2010 By 6 Comments


A Clockwork Copper, originally uploaded by Robert Burdock.

I’m sure many of you will be wholly familiar with David Pelham’s iconic illustration for the 1972 Penguin edition of A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess. If you are then you’d be mistaken for thinking that the illustration that adorns the cover of this upcoming title from William Heinemann – Pocket Notebook by Mike Thomas – is another of Pelham’s creations (I know I did). Rather, this is the handiwork of Willie Ryan, illustrator extraordinaire, who credits Pelham for the original inspiration for this piece (well he couldn’t very well not could he :) ).

Personally I love the ‘clockwork copper’. He sits well upon his garish background of turquoise and yellow (Ukrainian flag inspired perhaps? :) ), and you just know, even before seeing it in situ, that this title is going to stand out in the bookshop like a British Booby at a Canadian Mountie convention.

The novel looks pretty darn interesting too. It’s a debut novel from Mike Thomas, who’s not only a freelance writer but a serving police officer too (how does he find the time), and it’s about a tactical firearms officer who experiences a very public breakdown. So here’s me thinking:

out-of-control cop + gun = interesting times

It certainly sounds that way doesn’t it? But I’ll let you know for sure when I get around to reading in a couple of weeks’ time.

William Heinemann | 04 February 2010 | £12.99 | PAPERBACK | 288 PP | ISBN: 0434020087

Related posts:

  1. Daily Bookshot: V is for Victory
  2. Daily Bookshot: From the Valleys
  3. Daily Bookshot: He who hesitates…
  4. Daily Bookshot: Hemingway’s returned to life…
  5. Daily Bookshot: How’d That Happen?!?
Filed Under: Daily BookShot Tagged With: , ,
About Rob

Rob, a self-confessed bibliophile, is without any hope of rehabilitation. He gets unnaturally excited over anything book-shaped, and if book sniffing were a crime then he would have been locked up years ago (which wouldn't bother him in the slightest provided his cell was lined with books)

Comments

  1. Stujallen (Twitter: )
     says:
    January 26, 2010 at 10:53 pm

    it is very nice rob my copy came saturday really looking forward to reading this one sounds great

    Reply
  2. anthonylevings says:
    January 27, 2010 at 1:49 pm

    I’ve also received a copy of this book for review. Taking its central cover design element from David Pelham’s work for A Clockwork Orange (as you write above), and with its typography heavily echoing the poster to Stanley Kubrick’s film version, not to mention the seemingly heavy influence of Filth by Irvine Welsh on the text, I can’t wait to see what I think when I finish reading it.

    Reply
    • Rob (Twitter: )
       says:
      January 27, 2010 at 11:35 pm

      Nicely spotted with the Kubrick link there Anthony. Not sure I know what you mean with regards to Welsh with his Filth, but I guess I might when I start reading it. Regardless, on the face of it it looks like we’re in for some read. Can’t wait to compare notes with you too Doc :) .
      Warmest
      Rob

      Reply
  3. stujallen (Twitter: )
     says:
    February 1, 2010 at 12:26 am

    it is very good rob finished it earlier today .

    Reply

Speak Your Mind

*