Jonathan Coe

A moving, brutally funny and true portrait of Britain told through four generations of one family. In Bournville, a placid suburb of Birmingham, sits a famous chocolate factory. For eleven-year-old Mary and her family in 1945, it's the centre of the world. The reason their streets smell faintly of chocolate, the place where most of their friends and neighbours have...

The novel to truly capture the comedy and tragedy of our times. Beginning eight years ago on the outskirts of Birmingham, where car factories have been replaced by Poundland, and London, where frenzied riots give way to Olympic fever, Middle England follows a brilliantly vivid cast of characters through a time of immense change. There are newlyweds Ian and Sophie,...

The bestselling comic novel, now a Penguin Essential Unforgettably funny and painfully honest, Jonathan Coe's tale of Benjamin Trotter and his friends' coming of age during the 1970s is a heartfelt celebration of the joys and agonies of growing up. Featuring, among other things, IRA bombs, prog rock, punk rock, bad poetry, first love, love on the side, prefects, detention,...

A blistering political critique wrapped up in a murder mystery - from the bestselling author of Middle England. Post-university life doesn't suit Phyl. Time passes slowly living back home with her parents, working a zero-hour contract serving Japanese food to holidaymakers at Heathrow's Terminal 5. As for her budding plans of becoming a writer, those are going nowhere. That is,...

Darting between decades, perspectives and countries, THE PROOF OF MY INNOCENCE is a wickedly funny political murder mystery with a big heart - from the best-selling, beloved and prize winning author Post-university life doesn't suit Phyl. Time passes slowly, living with her parents and working a zero-hours contract at Heathrow Airport, while her budding plans of becoming a writer are...

A mesmerizing study of human character from one of the masters of modern fiction — now a Penguin Essential. The Rain Before it Falls is centred on Rosamund, who lies dying in her remote Shropshire home. Before she passes, she has one last task: to put on tape not just her own story, but the story of the young blind...