The biggest markets for my books outside the UK are France and Italy, and those are the two countries where I also have the closest personal relationships with my translators - I don't know whether that's a coincidence, or if there's something to be learned from it. Jonathan Coe bigbookclose share on social
The writer I feel the most affinity with - you said you felt my books are 19th century novels, I think they're 18th century novels - is Fielding, Henry Fielding, he's the guy who does it for me. Jonathan Coe 18th19thaffinity Change image and share on social
But you can try to read books at the wrong time or for the wrong reasons. Jonathan Coe bookreadreason Change image and share on social
I became quite taken over by Johnson's personality at some points while writing the biography, and since I went straight on to The Closed Circle afterwards, I did sometimes feel I could hear him whispering in my ear while I was working on it. Jonathan Coe biographycircleclose share on social
As soon as you start writing about how human beings interact with each other socially, you're into politics, aren't you? Jonathan Coe beinghumaninteract Change image and share on social
Ah, well, I have no talent for nonfiction, that's my problem. Jonathan Coe nonfictionproblemtalent Change image and share on social
Writers never feel comfortable having labels attached to them, however accurate they are. Jonathan Coe accurateattachcomfortable Change image and share on social
I'm one of those unlucky people who had a happy childhood. Jonathan Coe childhoodhappypeople Change image and share on social
But at the same time, I have trouble keeping things out of books, which is why I don't write short stories because they turn into novels. Jonathan Coe bookkeepnovel Change image and share on social
As the books grew bigger and more ambitious, the situations in question sometimes became political ones, and so it became necessary to start painting in the social background on a scale which eventually became panoramic. Jonathan Coe ambitiousbackgroundbig share on social
