“The biggest markets for my books outside the UK are France and Italy, ...” — Jonathan Coe Quote

“The biggest markets for my books outside the UK are France and Italy, and those are the two countries where I also have the closest personal relationships with my translators - I don't know whether that's a coincidence, or if there's something to be learned from it.”

“It seems to me that you would have to write a novel on a very small, intimate scale for it not to become political.”

“You would go mad if you began to speculate about the impact your novel might have while you were still writing it.”

“I feel most at home when I'm alone. That's not sad. It's just I feel closest to source and connection when I'm by myself.”

“Jazz is pretty much the freest thing you can be a part of. It's the closest thing I can get to flying. It's fun, interactive. In its own way, it's a sport.”

“I was in 'Rent,' for God's sake. The closest we came to stunts was dancing on a table.”