But I have always - ever since The Accidental Woman - written novels about individuals attempting to make choices in the context of situations over which they have no control. Jonathan Coe accidentalattemptchoice Change image and share on social
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
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
It seems to me that you would have to write a novel on a very small, intimate scale for it not to become political. Jonathan Coe intimatepoliticalscale 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
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
