Library books defaced by Joe Orton and Kenneth Halliwell to go on display

Islington Council is putting on an exhibition of the library books notoriously defaced by playwright Joe Orton and his lover Kenneth Halliwell, who were both jailed for the offence

The exhibition, entitled Malicious Damage: The Crimes of Joe Orton and Kenneth Halliwell in Islington, opens on Friday (14 October). Orton and Halliwell were each jailed for six months in 1962 for malicious damage to Islington library books.

The two men had doctored library books by adding images and altering text. They also removed pages from library books to decorate their flat. This is the first time that all the altered books have been put on show. The display, which is at Islington Museum until 21 January 2012, coincides with the publication in December of a book of the same title.

Joe Orton spent his time in prison writing, and subsequently launched his career as a playwright, responsible for dramas including Loot and Entertaining Mr.Sloane. In 1967, Kenneth Halliwell battered Orton to death with a hammer before committing suicide.

Website: www.islington.gov.uk