Image credit: Bridgr7 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · 2026-02-06 ↗
Joe Orton: When Defacing Library Books Became Subversive Art
St John Street / Finsbury Library · Clerkenwell → Angel → Rosebery Avenue → Great Ormond Street → Holborn · Literary history / archive / counterculture
Story
Housed within Finsbury Library, the Islington Local History Centre safeguards a unique testament to 1960s counterculture: the defaced book covers created by playwright Joe Orton and his partner, Kenneth Halliwell. Long before Orton achieved notoriety with provocative plays like 'What the Butler Saw' or 'Loot', the pair embarked on a subversive campaign within Islington's public libraries during the late 1950s and early 60s. They shared a profound disdain for what they perceived as the dullness and predictability of conventional literature and the book jackets of the era. Their method was simple yet audacious: they would steal volumes from the shelves, take them back to their nearby flat on Noel Road, and, in an act blending collage, dark humour, and sexual provocation, meticulously alter the covers. They replaced original images with scandalous photographs, absurd texts, or montages that completely subverted the book's message, often adding obscene titles or subtitles. Once completed, they would stealthily return them to the library shelves, sowing confusion among unsuspecting readers and staff alike. This game of 'guerrilla art' came to an abrupt end in 1962 when they were discovered and each sentenced to six months in prison for theft and malicious damage. What the judicial system and local council at the time treated as pure vandalism is now reinterpreted as an early form of subversive art, an incisive critique of the social and cultural norms of pre-sexual liberation England. Miraculously, the seized covers, which served as evidence in their trial, were not destroyed; the library service itself preserved them, thus unintentionally transforming evidence of a crime into a valuable archive. The marks of censorship, provocation, and ingenious transgression are still readable on these artefacts, offering a unique window into the irreverence of an era and the evolving perception of art and activism in London.
What to look for
The original book covers, manipulated by Orton and Halliwell, feature collages combining images and texts, deliberately clashing with the original book's content and respectable appearance.
Secret detail
It is notable that the altered covers were not destroyed after the trial. The library service itself preserved them as evidence, thereby turning the 'vandalism' into a historical collection.
Where exactly
Finsbury Library, 245 St John Street. The Islington Local History Centre is located inside this building.
Orientation
To view the Orton and Halliwell archive material, you must contact the Local History Centre in advance and book an appointment.
Why it matters
This place holds the physical evidence of an act of 'guerrilla art' that challenged authority and cultural norms. It reflects the counterculture of the 1960s and how the perception of art can shift over time.
Access & opening
Local History Centre operates by appointment; opening days/hours can change. Confirm before routing.
Archive access is generally free; appointment required.
We never show live status. Check opening hours before you go.
Accessibility
Contact Islington Archives for current access requirements.