Aug 23, 20 jonathan coe s tenth novel begins with historical fact. The climax of expo 58 brings the personal and the political into a brilliant and. Expo 58 by jonathan coe used very good 9780241966907. There was indeed an expo exposition, or worlds fair in 1958, hosted by the belgian government on the heysel plateau just north of brussels. A fine, unread copy of a first edition, first impression hardback in a fine, unclipped dustjacket. Expo 58 may represent a glittering future, both for europe and for thomas himself, but he will soon be forced to decide where his public and private loyaties really lie. Ive really enjoyed the previous books ive read jonathan coe though have not read any for about 1520 years. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that the. If this is a hard cover, the dust jacket may be missing. First published by viking in 20, much of the novels action centres around the british pavilion at the brussels. The two books are therefore related, although they are completely different in tone.
On a level more personal to the characters in the book its also the number of floors below ground which are being added to a. Two secret service agents form a quickfire double act. Comedy is the medicinemedicine that exists not to cure you but to make you realize, once the medicine wears off, how sick you really are. Our cheap used books come with free delivery in the uk. Jonathan coe vanessa guignery macmillan international higher. First published by viking in 20, much of the novels action centres around the british pavilion at the brussels worlds fair. Jonathan coe marries cold war and comedy to equal graham greene, writes robert mccrum. Handsome, unassuming thomas foley is an employee at the central office of information whose particular biography belgian mother, pubowning father makes. Expo 58 paperback by coe jonathan isbn 0241966906 isbn. Nov 19, 2018 jonathan coe uses middle england as an opportunity to revisit characters readers first met in the rotters club his novel about coming of age in birmingham during the the 1970s. Jonathan coe s book expo 58 is wonderfully prescient of the brexit crisis that those attitudes have now given us. And each could only have come from the pen of the novelist coe.
Jonathan coe uses middle england as an opportunity to revisit characters readers first met in the rotters club his novel about coming of age in birmingham during the the 1970s. It is set within the carve up of the uks resources which was. Like the best books of this kind, expo 58 is funny and smarta light, blessedly short, dry english satire. Expo 58, and perhaps offers a clue to its seemingly deliberate mildness.
More pointedly, it is the focal point of some lowkey spying and highblown diplomacy, along with human interaction of the more personal sort. To ask other readers questions about expo 58, please sign up. A friend recommended expo 58 and, as its a really interesting premise for a novel, and one that appealed to me, i gave it a go. The title is taken from the album the rotters club by experimental rock band hatfield and the north. Thomas foley is a junior civil servant working for the governments central office of information. At any rate, it hovers disconcertingly over his new comedy, expo 58, and. Published in the exhibition study group journal no. The rotters club download pdfepub ebook gets free book. Jun 26, 2014 like many of jonathan coe s novels of which im a huge fan expo 58 has a wellmeaning, hapless protagonist trying to navigate his way through a confusing situation armed with only about a quarter of the information he really needs. Discover book depositorys huge selection of jonathan coe books online. Jonathan coe and each could only have come from the pen of the novelist coe. Booklist expo 58 is coe at his funnyserious best, offering idiosyncratic mixture of slapstick and profundity in a loveandspies story set at the height of the cold warpure enjoyment. Buy expo 58 by jonathan coe, in very good condition. Just send us an email and well put the best up on the site.
Jonathan coe s tenth novel begins with historical fact. Jul 11, 2019 discover book depositorys huge selection of jonathan coe books online. A book that has been read, but is in good condition. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. The work was nominated to the 2015 longlist for the international dublin literary award references. Jonathan coe is the author of thirteen novels, all published by penguin, which include the highly acclaimed bestsellers what a carve up. Jonathon coe in one of my favourite novelists and ive been looking forward to expo 58 for a long time, even though its one of his less discussed novels.
The book is set in 1958, the year of the brussels worlds fair. The accidental woman, a touch of love, the dwarves of death, what a carve up. Loggerheads is therefore essential reading for all fans of. Accidental woman to expo 58, including the remarkable what a carve up. In fact at least three of the stories here, though selfcontained, are part of a larger project to depict the history of a fictional midlands family, a project which includes the novels the rain before it falls and expo 58. Buy expo 58 by coe, jonathan from amazons fiction books store. British author jonathan coe has used that fair as the subject of his new novel, expo 58. On a level more personal to the characters in the book its also the number of floors below ground which are being added to a house in chelsea owned by an obscenelyrich family. May 19, 2008 discover book depositorys huge selection of jonathan coe books online. The action of this book starts with the election of the coalition government under david cameron in 2010 and ends in postbrexit 2018. Funny but pointed, over a series of sometimes interconnected novels coe. A comic spy caper and international love story, set in europe in the middle of the last century, expo 58 is the latest sublime creation by jonathan coe, hailed by nick hornby as probably the best english novelist of his generation.
Jonathan coe s six novels to date have measured a clear progression from experiment to accomplishment. Expo 58 is, as ive come to expect from jonathan coe, very funny, with moments and characters reminiscent of ealing comedy. Although expo 58 was written as a standalone novel, its hero thomas will be recognised by any readers who paid special attention to the rain before it falls. The rain before it falls by jonathan coe 9780241967751. Number 11, by jonathan coe jonathan coe s new novel is a blackhearted satire about the crumbling of modern britain, and the point at.
The book appears to hold the record for the longest sentence in english. He works at the central office of infomation in london, leading a quiet life in suburbia with his wife and new born baby. The rotters club is a 2001 novel by british author jonathan coe, set in birmingham during the 1970s, and inspired by the authors experiences at king edwards school, birmingham. Like many of jonathan coe s novels of which im a huge fan expo 58 has a wellmeaning, hapless protagonist trying to navigate his way through a confusing situation armed with only about a quarter of the information he really needs. Contemporary british satire includes chapters by leading and emerging scholars of contemporary british writing. Deeply moving and compelling, the rain before it falls is the story of three generations of one family riven by tragedy.
Although published in 20 when brexit was still a wet dream of boris johnson and tory eurosceptics, it nevertheless, through exploring british feelings towards europe in 1958. Jonathan coe is one of the most popular and critically acclaimed contemporary british writers. For fans of jonathan coes classic comic bestsellers what a carve up. Number 11, by jonathan coe jonathan coe s new novel is a blackhearted satire about the crumbling of modern britain, and the point at which childhood gives way to a cold assessment. S johnson, like a fiery elephant, and the broken mirror, a childrens book. Jonathan coe at literature matters conversation at salon. His work has an underlying preoccupation with political issues, although this serious engagement is often expressed comically in the form of satire. Buy this book thomas foley, the hero of this smallscale but. Expo 58, likeall the best comic novels, reminds us that comedy is not the sugar that makes the medicine go down.
The book has been read but remains in clean condition. Make mum a mothers day card just in time for sunday. Thomas foley, the hero of this smallscale but impressive novel about the 1958 worlds fair in brussels, is the quintessential english everyman. Inspired by david nobbs superlative the fall and rise of reginald perrin, jonathan coe set about capturing his cool, dry wit in 1987s the accidental woman, but it took 1983s effortless thatcherite satire what a carveup. Covering all of his major novels, including his most recent book number 11, jonathan coe. There was indeed an expo exposition, or worlds fair in 1958, hosted by the belgian government on. The atomium, built for the 1958 worlds fair in brussels, the setting for jonathan coe s latest book. If you prefer something more in the line of espionage, how about spies by michael frayn, one of jonathan coe s influences. Expo 58 by jonathan coe meet your next favorite book. Expo 58 by jonathan coe spies, girls and an englishman abroad. Jonathan coes classic comic bestsellers what a carve up. All books are swathed in biodegradable bubble wrap and posted in strong, custom made book boxes to ensure undamaged delivery.
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