What forces shaped the transgressive life and violent death of playwright Joe Orton? John Lahr, a prominent theater critic and biographer, utilizes personal correspondence, diaries, and interviews with Orton's contemporaries to reconstruct the life of the British dramatist. The book argues that Orton’s work was a direct, subversive reaction to the stifling social and moral conventions of post-war Britain, ultimately leading to his tragic murder by his partner, Kenneth Halliwell.

Critics widely regard this work as the definitive account of Joe Orton’s life and artistic development. Readers frequently note the meticulous research and the author's ability to balance objective reporting with a deep understanding of the subject's psychological complexity.