The Kingdom of the Wicked
Anthony Burgess
📚 Genre
Historical Fiction - Biblical Fiction
🏢 Publisher
Arbor House
📅 Publication Year
1985
🔢 ISBN
0385193912
About This Book
A historical novel chronicling the early days of Christianity, following the apostles and the spread of the new faith across the Roman Empire amidst persecution, political intrigue, and cultural clashes. The cover features a faux-stone or parchment-like texture with embossed-style serif lettering resembling ancient Roman inscriptions, adorned with green ivy vines climbing the lower corners.
Book Details
Language
English
Pages
384
Edition
First American Edition, Hardcover
Series
Standalone novel
Target Audience
Adult
Collector Information
Condition
Good. The dust jacket shows noticeable surface wear, creasing near the top edge, and some slight edge rubbing. The stone-textured cover design remains mostly clean with vibrant colors.
Estimated Value
$10-$25
Rarity
Common. The first American edition was published in decent quantities by Arbor House and is readily available on the secondary used book market.
Historical Significance
Written by one of the 20th century's most celebrated and linguistically inventive authors, Anthony Burgess (best known for A Clockwork Orange). This novel represents his ambitious foray into epic historical and religious fiction, exploring the genesis of Western Christianity.
Collector Notes
For collectors, maintaining the dust jacket in a protective Mylar sleeve is essential to preserve its condition due to the light-colored background showing wear easily. Value remains relatively stable and modest for standard trade editions.
Similar Books
Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz, The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas, Julian by Gore Vidal, Lamb by Christopher Moore
Notable Features
First American edition featuring distinctive stone-carved typographic cover design typical of Arbor House hardcover releases from the mid-1980s.