Anthony Burgess
"He started writing fiction during his Malayan years 'as sort of a gentlemanly hobby, because I knew there wasn't any money in it.'" (Halio 160) Little did Anthony Burgess know that he would go on to write over 60 books and become one of the most prolific British authors of the 20th century. He was born on February 25, 1917, to a very strict Catholic family. His mother and sister died soon after, leaving him to be cared for by his father, aunt, and later his stepmother. Many different people, events, and locales have influenced his writing. The most influential, however, were his Catholic upbringing, his travels to Malaya, and his wife. The most pervasive influence on Burgess was his Catholic heritage. "Abundantly reflected in Burgess's fiction is his Roman Catholic background, which is part of an ancient regional and family heritage." (Halio 160) Many of his ancestors were involved in the struggles between Catholics and Protestants in the Renaissance; one of them, who, ironically, had the same birth name, was martyred during Elizabeth I's reign. (Halio, 160) He went to Catholic schools throughout his childhood, and upon graduating from high school, wanted to become a musician, studying at Manchester U
Another main influence on Burgess's writings was his trip to Malaya. He was disheartened by a previous job, so he applied for a position as an officer in the British Colonial service in Malaya, as a long shot. To his great surprise, he was offered the position, took it, and upon arriving, was amazed. He was awe-struck by the beauty of his new surroundings, and was interested in the conflicts that existed there between the native people. To capture the spirit of this wonderful place, he actually composed a symphony. Critics did not like it very much, however, so he decided to write a novel. What came out of the experience was The Malayan Trilogy, a group of narratives describing the different cultures present there and telling entertaining stories. (Halio 161) The first novel in the series, Time For A Tiger, was his first novel to be published in the UK. "It was the colonial experience itself that started him writing: for the first time he had some extra money, and, with the help of servants, time, so that writing was affordable." (Dix, 186) He had always spent his creative energy on music; this was the first time he tried writing, and it turned out well. "...He wrote and published the Malayan trilogy, inspired by his teaching in Malaya and Borneo, where he found, in the conflict of races an
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Approximate Word count = 882
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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