The 'discomfort of labels'

 

Writers never feel comfortable having labels attached to them, however accurate they are. – Jonathan Coe

 

Born in Bromsgrove, England in August of 1961, Coe has written 17 mostly satirical and politically focused novels, starting with 1987’s The Accidental Woman.  His most recent novel is 2024’s The Proof of My Innocence and his next one Lessons in Harmony, slated for release this November.  His novel Middle England won both the European and Costa book awards.

 

 Coe also has had several nonfiction books, led by Humphrey Bogart: Take It and Like It – one of the best written on the late actor – and his ongoing love of music has led to collaborations with other writers and musicians on a wide range of songs.  And he’s written several children’s books, but no short stories.

 

“I have trouble keeping things out of books, which is why I don't write short stories,” he said.   “They just seem to turn into novels.”