I’ve spent the last few days writing a new introduction for the forthcoming Greek edition of my very first published novel, The Accidental Woman. This has brought back a lot of memories for me.
I can vividly remember starting to write the book late one afternoon in September 1984, in the old British Film Institute library on Charing Cross Road (where Foyles now stands, more or less). I had sent three novels to publishers prior to this, and none of them had been accepted. I remember saying to myself that if this one met the same fate, I’d give up writing altogether.
When the book finally came out from Duckworth in 1987 (with one significant change – they rejected the original title, Maria) it was in the shops for a week or two, sold 272 copies, and the remainder were pulped.
I’m so grateful to Alkistis Triberi for making this new translation, and to my wonderful Greek publishers Polis. When I look back on the 23-year-old postgrad student who wrote this strange little novel, it seems incredible to me that it’s now getting another life, in another country, more than forty years later.
Very sorry to hear that the dramatist Richard Cameron has died.
Hard for me to believe it's almost exactly ten years since Richard's adaptation of The Rotters' Club was staged at the Birmingham Rep. It was a brilliant and imaginative version, which inspired me to write my next novel, Middle England, by making me want to revisit the characters.
RIP Richard.
(Tagging @annabradleyy and
@maggiemcguire98 who are the only cast members I can find on here)
📚Cu peste 15 romane publicate și traduse în mai mult de 20 de limbi, este una dintre cele mai importante voci ale literaturii contemporane, un fin observator al vieții britanice moderne, dar şi al fragilității individuale.
🥳Iar acum vine la NOD! Jonathan Coe este marea noastră surpriză pentru toți iubitorii de lectură, de Ziua Cărții și a Drepturilor de Autor.📚
✨Pentru noi, este o bucurie și o onoare să-l avem alături la cea de-a doua ediție NOD, între 24–27 septembrie, la Brașov.
Mon amie @alicekneuse est une photographe remarquable, une véritable poétesse de l'image dont les clichés nous offrent une vision inédite du corps humain. Je regrette de ne pouvoir me rendre à son exposition à @galeriefahmymalinovsky cette semaine, mais si vous êtes à Paris, il faut absolument y aller. C'est un incontournable !
Selfie taken in Maurice Ravel’s bathroom mirror, 15.1.2026
Today, thanks to the generosity of @la_maison_musee_maurice_ravel , I had the immense privilege of visiting Maurice Ravel’s house in Montfort l’Amaury. What an amazing experience to spend some time in this house, which has been preserved just as he lived there in the 1920s and 30s!
RIP the beautiful, brilliant Rachel Cooke.
We first met in 2001. She was 32, I was 40. I loved her writing, and loved her as a person. Fearless, funny and with zero tolerance for pretentiousness or bullshit.
When I last spent some time with her, in March, she was on great form - full of mischief, curiosity, wisdom and energy. Full of life, in other words.
And now, eight months later, this.
Cancer is ruthless.
All my love to her husband Tony. And go well, Rachel. You are irreplaceable.
