Thatcherism has become bigger than she ever was. Jonathan Coe bigthatcherism 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
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
Ah, well, I have no talent for nonfiction, that's my problem. Jonathan Coe nonfictionproblemtalent Change image and share on social
I have two ideas for novels at the moment, neither of them all that conventional, but I'm not ready to choose between them yet, let alone settle down to the process of writing. Jonathan Coe chooseconventionalidea Change image and share on social
The more melancholy side of my literary personality is much in tune with BS Johnson's. Jonathan Coe johnsonliterarymelancholy Change image and share on social
I think it's also the case that I'm not as widely travelled, or as well-educated in history, as most of the other novelists I meet: so I have to write about my own country, at the present time, because it's more or less all I know about! Jonathan Coe casecountryeducate share on social
It's only a drawback in the States, where most people seem to have no real interest in other countries and the notion of a novel which might offer insight into life in the UK doesn't seem to appeal very widely. Jonathan Coe appealcountrydrawback share on social
I live a perfectly happy and comfortable life in Blair's Britain, but I can't work up much affection for the culture we've created for ourselves: it's too cynical, too knowing, too ironic, too empty of real value and meaning. Jonathan Coe affectionblairbritain share on social
