Middle England

Reviews

Brilliantly funny . . . a compelling state of the nation novel, full of light and shade, which vividly charts modern Britain's tragicomic slide Expansive and often very funny . . . Coe - a writer of uncommon decency - reminds us that the way out of this mess is through moderation, through compromise, through that age-old English ability to laugh at ourselves A pertinent, entertaining study of a nation in crisis His affectionately witty attitude to our human foibles is always uplifting . . . Superb In Middle England, Coe shows an understanding of this country that goes beyond what most cabinet ministers can muster . . . he subtly builds a picture that exposes the cracks in society . . . he is a master of satire but pokes fun subtly, without ever being cruel, biting or blatant . . . his light, funny writing makes you feel better Tackling his characters' opposing points of view, he draws a portrait of a recognisable Britain baffled by its loss of industry and jobs, and of everyday people shocked by a rise of acceptable racism and xenophobia. It's also very, very funny Millions of words have been and will be written on Brexit but few will get to the heart of why it is happening as incisively as Middle England This is a picture of England that comes from a place of compassion and understanding Coe is as funny and tender as ever, restoring some humanity to the tumultuous societal backdrop Middle England combines top-class soap opera storytelling with melancholy insight into what it means to be English Middle England takes all that is memorable and moving about Coe's body of work and throws it at the present emergency Sparkled with all the acuity of his best novels . . . Uproarious and always on-the-money Very funny . . . Exceptionally good . . . Delightful Brilliant Middle England is a full-blooded state of the nation novel, and it brings us bang up-to-date Coe is an extraordinarily deft plotter . . . he tackles big ambitious themes, in this case the effect of politics on people's lives, and political opinions on personal relations The beauty of Jonathan Coe's new novel, Middle England, is the way it tracks the seemingly unconnected moments that brought Britain to its knees - and with devastating delicacy, too The great chronicler of Englishness A copper bottomed masterpiece Coe's comic critique of a divided country dazzles . . . properly laugh-out-loud funny . . . it is also incisive and brilliant about our divided country and the deep chasms revealed by the vote to leave. Do not miss The first great Brexit novel This book is sublimely good. State of the (Brexit) nation novel to end them all, but also funny, tender, generous, so human and intelligent about age and love as well as politics Jonathan Coe's Middle England is brilliantly insightful on the times we are living in Let me add to the chorus of praise for Jonathan Coe's new book Middle England. Easily my favourite of his since What a Carve Up! Which did for Thatcherism what Middle England does for Brexit An astute, enlightened and enlightening journey into the heart of our current national identity crisis. Both moving and funny. As we'd expect from Coe From post-industrial Birmingham to the London riots and the current political gridlock, it takes in family, literature and love in a comedy for our times Coe can make you smile, sigh, laugh; he has abundant sympathy for his characters This book is sublimely good. State of the (Brexit) nation novel to end them all, but also funny, tender, generous, so human and intelligent about age and love as well as politics Probably the best English novelist of his generation No modern novelist is better at charting the precariousness of middle-class life An angry and exuberant book Jonathan Coe has established himself as one of the most entertaining chroniclers of our times You can't stop reading....I was haunted for days Expand reviews