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Middle England

A Novel

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Middle England

Written by: Jonathan Coe
Narrated by: Rory Kinnear
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"A comedy for our times” (The Guardian), Middle England is a piercing and provocative novel about a country in crisis. From the frenzy of the 2012 Olympics to the aftermath of the Brexit referendum, here Jonathan Coe chronicles the story of modern Britain by way of a cast of characters whose world is being upended.

There are newlyweds who disagree about the country’s future and, possibly, their relationship; a political commentator who writes impassioned columns about austerity from his lavish town house while his radical teenage daughter undertakes a relentless quest for universal justice; and Benjamin Trotter, who embarks on an apparently doomed new career in middle age, and his father, whose last wish is to vote to leave the European Union. A sequel to The Rotters’ Club and The Closed Circle that stands entirely alone, Middle England is a darkly comic look at our strange new world.

©2019 Jonathan Coe (P)2019 Random House Audio Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Comedy England Middle England
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What the critics say

“Timely and timeless ..Coe’s singular achievement is the dexterity with which he illustrates the generational conflicts and the nuanced experiences of aging...this plaintive, clarion call is an acerbic, keenly observed satire peppered with the penetrating wit for which Coe is so justly admired.” (Bill Kelly, Booklist, starred)

“Sharply observed, bitingly witty yet emotionally generous...Coe’s marvelous humor is still in evidence, but it’s got a decided edge...Coe, with his usual acuity, tells the story of a collective meltdown through its impact on individuals.” (Kirkus Reviews, starred)

“Excellent...a neat pastiche of the cultural flash points of the past decade, done with humor and empathy...a remarkable portrait of a country at an inflection point.” (Publishers Weekly)
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It took me a minute to get into the main characters and their stories but, once I did, the novel flowed and I could not stop listening. Every character drew me in. I love the personal made political and the political made personal and how the threads of historic importance are woven throughout the work. I found some echos of Peter Flannery's 'Our Friends In the North', and some of Julian Fellowes' 'Past Imperfect' which, to me, makes this book well worth its weight in any precious metal. Rory Kinear is absolutely the best vocal interpreter for this audiobook. He does it impeccably.

Spectacular

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