--- title: "Best Jonathan Coe Quotes" description: "Jonathan Coe is an English novelist and writer. His work has an underlying preoccupation with political issues, although this serious engagement is ofte..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b014/author-jonathan-coe-52862.jpg" --- ![Portrait of Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b014/author-jonathan-coe-52862.jpg) # Jonathan Coe (1961) Novelist United Kingdom **60** quotes in **307** categories Rate this collection: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet Jonathan Coe is a novelist from the United Kingdom, best known for *The Rotters' Club*. ## Quick Facts About Jonathan Coe Born August 19, 1961 Nationality United Kingdom Profession Novelist Notable works The Rotters' Club Known for What a Carve Up! ## About Jonathan Coe Jonathan Coe is an English novelist and writer. His work has an underlying preoccupation with political issues, although this serious engagement is often expressed comically in the form of satire. For example, What a Carve Up! (1994) reworks the plot of an old 1960s spoof horror film of the same name. It is set within the "carve up" of the UK's resources that was carried out by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative governments of the 1980s. ## Awards & Honors John Llewellyn Rhys Prize Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize Baillie Gifford Prize Prix Médicis étranger Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature Q130553019 Q137863831 ## Quotes by Jonathan Coe · Page 2 > [“The upshot was that she lost her religion - with a vengeance - and walked out on him, taking these three daughters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/the-upshot-was-that-she-lost-her-religion-with-a-vengeance-and-walked/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) [Daughters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daughters/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/jonathan-coe-10154_daughters_the-upshot-was-that-she-lost-her-religio_30747.jpg) > [Luckily, in my case, I have managed, by writing, to do the one thing that I always wanted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/luckily-in-my-case-i-have-managed-by-writing-to-do-the-one-thing-that/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/jonathan-coe-10154_always_luckily-in-my-case-i-have-managed-by-wri_2298096.jpg) > [It's only a drawback in the States, where most people seem to have no real interest in other countries and the notion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/it-s-only-a-drawback-in-the-states-where-most-people-seem-to-have-no/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) [Appeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appeal/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/jonathan-coe-10154_appeal_it-s-only-a-drawback-in-the-states-where_739876.jpg) > [“You're right, Margaret, absolutely right. Things have changed a lot, even since I've been here. It's a different place now. Better in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/you-re-right-margaret-absolutely-right-things-have-changed-a-lot-even/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) [Changed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changed/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5a/jonathan-coe-10154_changed_you-re-right-margaret-absolutely-right-t_2773752.jpg) > [“Yes, she would have been partial to men, perhaps she might even have confined herself to one man in particular, if only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/yes-she-would-have-been-partial-to-men-perhaps-she-might-even-have/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) [Intimacy People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimacy-people-979468/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d89/jonathan-coe-10154_intimacy-people_yes-she-would-have-been-partial-to-men-p_75548.jpg) > [As the books grew bigger and more ambitious, the situations in question sometimes became political ones, and so it became necessary to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/as-the-books-grew-bigger-and-more-ambitious-the-situations-in/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) [Ambitious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f0/jonathan-coe-10154_ambitious_as-the-books-grew-bigger-and-more-ambiti_2489864.jpg) > [I became quite taken over by Johnson's personality at some points while writing the biography, and since I went straight on to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/i-became-quite-taken-over-by-johnson-s-personality-at-some-points/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) [Afterwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afterwards/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/jonathan-coe-10154_afterwards_i-became-quite-taken-over-by-johnson-s-p_1812374.jpg) > [“I don't mind summer rain. In fact I like it. It's my favourite sort.' 'Your favourite sort of rain?' said Thea. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/i-don-t-mind-summer-rain-in-fact-i-like-it-it-s-my-favourite-sort/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) [Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rain/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae8/jonathan-coe-10154_rain_i-don-t-mind-summer-rain-in-fact-i-like_1080006.jpg) > [“Save some pity for the Misfit, fighting on with bursting heart; Not a trace of common sense, his is no common flight.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/save-some-pity-for-the-misfit-fighting-on-with-bursting-heart-not-a/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) [Guiding light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guiding-light/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/634/jonathan-coe-10154_guiding-light_save-some-pity-for-the-misfit-fighting-o_451555.jpg) > [“Half an hour later, as I was deeply immersed in the story of The Man of the Hill, that curious, lengthy digression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/half-an-hour-later-as-i-was-deeply-immersed-in-the-story-of-the-man/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/446/jonathan-coe-10154_storytelling_half-an-hour-later-as-i-was-deeply-immer_2531105.jpg) > [Revisionist historians are about to get their hands on the Thatcher years, shes probably going to be looked at again because she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/revisionist-historians-are-about-to-get-their-hands-on-the-thatcher/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/194/jonathan-coe-10154_country_revisionist-historians-are-about-to-get_2743537.jpg) > [The writer I feel the most affinity with - you said you felt my books are 19th century novels, I think they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/the-writer-i-feel-the-most-affinity-with-you-said-you-felt-my-books/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) [18th century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/18th-century/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a79/jonathan-coe-10154_18th-century_the-writer-i-feel-the-most-affinity-with_2392406.jpg) > [But I have always - ever since The Accidental Woman - written novels about individuals attempting to make choices in the context…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/but-i-have-always-ever-since-the-accidental-woman-written-novels/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) [Attempting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempting/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/jonathan-coe-10154_attempting_but-i-have-always-ever-since-the-acciden_2552979.jpg) > [I have two ideas for novels at the moment, neither of them all that conventional, but I'm not ready to choose between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/i-have-two-ideas-for-novels-at-the-moment-neither-of-them-all-that/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0aa/jonathan-coe-10154_books_i-have-two-ideas-for-novels-at-the-momen_2109982.jpg) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/i-live-a-perfectly-happy-and-comfortable-life-in-blair-s-britain-but/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) [Affection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affection/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/470/jonathan-coe-10154_affection_i-live-a-perfectly-happy-and-comfortable_1457958.jpg) > [My only regret is that I signed away the world rights and in America they've been far and away my most successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/my-only-regret-is-that-i-signed-away-the-world-rights-and-in-america/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/jonathan-coe-10154_america_my-only-regret-is-that-i-signed-away-the_2450052.jpg) > [I had no sense of any reputation that What a Carve Up! might acquire - at the time I didnt even have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/i-had-no-sense-of-any-reputation-that-what-a-carve-up-might-acquire/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) [Acquire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquire/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/571/jonathan-coe-10154_acquire_i-had-no-sense-of-any-reputation-that-wh_387385.jpg) > [The plain fact is that she never really liked me, and never wanted me. I had been a mistake; and that, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/the-plain-fact-is-that-she-never-really-liked-me-and-never-wanted-me/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/jonathan-coe-10154_eye_the-plain-fact-is-that-she-never-really_34053.jpg) > [I was mainly in a state of nervousness while I wrote it - nervousness that it was far bigger and more complicated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/i-was-mainly-in-a-state-of-nervousness-while-i-wrote-it-nervousness/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) [Abandoned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abandoned/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3c/jonathan-coe-10154_abandoned_i-was-mainly-in-a-state-of-nervousness-w_2521511.jpg) > [As I said, I had no publisher for What a Carve Up! while I was writing it, so all we had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/as-i-said-i-had-no-publisher-for-what-a-carve-up-while-i-was-writing/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) [Bits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bits/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbc/jonathan-coe-10154_bits_as-i-said-i-had-no-publisher-for-what-a_660968.jpg) ## Jonathan Coe by topic [Books (11)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/jonathan-coe/) [Writing (10)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/jonathan-coe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/#itemlist", "name": "Jonathan Coe Quotes", "numberOfItems": 20, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The upshot was that she lost her religion - with a vengeance - and walked out on him, taking these three daughters with her. 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Things have changed a lot, even since I've been here. It's a different place now. Better in some ways, worse in others.\" \"Better!\" she echoed, scornfully.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jonathan Coe" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/you-re-right-margaret-absolutely-right-things-have-changed-a-lot-even/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5a/jonathan-coe-10154_changed_you-re-right-margaret-absolutely-right-t_2773752.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5a/jonathan-coe-10154_changed_you-re-right-margaret-absolutely-right-t_2773752.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5a/jonathan-coe-10154_changed_you-re-right-margaret-absolutely-right-t_2773752.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You're right, Margaret, absolutely right. Things have changed a lot, even since I've been here. 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In fact I like it. It's my favourite sort.' 'Your favourite sort of rain?' said Thea. I remember that she was frowning, and pondering these words, and then she announced: 'Well, I like the rain before it falls.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jonathan Coe" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/i-don-t-mind-summer-rain-in-fact-i-like-it-it-s-my-favourite-sort/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae8/jonathan-coe-10154_rain_i-don-t-mind-summer-rain-in-fact-i-like_1080006.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae8/jonathan-coe-10154_rain_i-don-t-mind-summer-rain-in-fact-i-like_1080006.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae8/jonathan-coe-10154_rain_i-don-t-mind-summer-rain-in-fact-i-like_1080006.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't mind summer rain. In fact I like it. It's my favourite sort.' 'Your favourite sort of rain?' said…” — Jonathan Coe", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Save some pity for the Misfit, fighting on with bursting heart; Not a trace of common sense, his is no common flight. Save, save him some pity. 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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.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jonathan Coe" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/the-writer-i-feel-the-most-affinity-with-you-said-you-felt-my-books/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a79/jonathan-coe-10154_18th-century_the-writer-i-feel-the-most-affinity-with_2392406.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a79/jonathan-coe-10154_18th-century_the-writer-i-feel-the-most-affinity-with_2392406.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a79/jonathan-coe-10154_18th-century_the-writer-i-feel-the-most-affinity-with_2392406.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The writer I feel the most affinity with - you said you felt my books are 19th century novels, I think…” — Jonathan Coe", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 13, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jonathan Coe" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/but-i-have-always-ever-since-the-accidental-woman-written-novels/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/jonathan-coe-10154_attempting_but-i-have-always-ever-since-the-acciden_2552979.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/jonathan-coe-10154_attempting_but-i-have-always-ever-since-the-acciden_2552979.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/jonathan-coe-10154_attempting_but-i-have-always-ever-since-the-acciden_2552979.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But I have always - ever since The Accidental Woman - written novels about individuals attempting to make…” — Jonathan Coe", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 14, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jonathan Coe" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/i-have-two-ideas-for-novels-at-the-moment-neither-of-them-all-that/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0aa/jonathan-coe-10154_books_i-have-two-ideas-for-novels-at-the-momen_2109982.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0aa/jonathan-coe-10154_books_i-have-two-ideas-for-novels-at-the-momen_2109982.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0aa/jonathan-coe-10154_books_i-have-two-ideas-for-novels-at-the-momen_2109982.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have two ideas for novels at the moment, neither of them all that conventional, but I'm not ready to…” — Jonathan Coe", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 15, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jonathan Coe" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/i-live-a-perfectly-happy-and-comfortable-life-in-blair-s-britain-but/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/470/jonathan-coe-10154_affection_i-live-a-perfectly-happy-and-comfortable_1457958.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/470/jonathan-coe-10154_affection_i-live-a-perfectly-happy-and-comfortable_1457958.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/470/jonathan-coe-10154_affection_i-live-a-perfectly-happy-and-comfortable_1457958.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I live a perfectly happy and comfortable life in Blair's Britain, but I can't work up much affection for the…” — Jonathan Coe", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 16, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My only regret is that I signed away the world rights and in America they've been far and away my most successful books, but I never saw a cent from any of it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jonathan Coe" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/my-only-regret-is-that-i-signed-away-the-world-rights-and-in-america/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/jonathan-coe-10154_america_my-only-regret-is-that-i-signed-away-the_2450052.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/jonathan-coe-10154_america_my-only-regret-is-that-i-signed-away-the_2450052.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/jonathan-coe-10154_america_my-only-regret-is-that-i-signed-away-the_2450052.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My only regret is that I signed away the world rights and in America they've been far and away my most…” — Jonathan Coe", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 17, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had no sense of any reputation that What a Carve Up! might acquire - 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