The work was nominated to the 2015 longlist for the international dublin literary award references. A highly amusing and readable novel, expo 58 features the world fair in brussels in 1958. His first surviving story, a detective thriller called the castle of mystery, was written at the age of eight. Handsome, unassuming thomas foley is an employee at the central office of information whose particular biography belgian. Expo 58 novel expo 58 is the tenth novel by jonathan coe. Members of our summer reading group liked the differences in writing styles and themes of this years four shortlisted books finding most of the stories highly enjoyable. He works at the central office of infomation in london, leading a quiet life in suburbia with his wife and new born baby. Expo 58 jonathan coe 9789023484615 standaard boekhandel. I love the classic light comedy films of the 1930s and 40s and wanted to do. A novel by jonathan coe 20140902 hardcover january 1, 1769 by jonathan coe author. Abridged by libby spurrier and read by tim mcinnerny.
Like many of jonathan coes 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. Jonathan coe effortlessly combines a kafkaesque sense of dread and futility with a lighthearted, practical, jollyoldchap british sensibility. Jonathan coe marries cold war and comedy to equal graham greene, writes robert mccrum. The first few pages of this story appear in his novel what a carve up. He describes expo 58 however as not really a satire but a comedy. Coe is probably best known for the rotters club and what a carve up. The two books are therefore related, although they are completely different in tone.
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. Like the best books of this kind, expo 58 is funny and smarta light, blessedly short, dry english satire. Belgian spirit bruxelles expo 58 selected by the evolution of world expo design this summer, a whole lot of people will descend upon milan for the 2015 world expo. In it, jonathan coe explores the british attitudes to europe at the time and even today, through the eyes of thomas foley, who is selected from the central office of information to oversee the britannia pub which is a major par of the british exhibit. Described by the publisher as a comic spy caper and international love story, expo 58 is just thatand its terrific. Expo 58 by jonathan coe a veritable legion, these literary jonathans. James lasdun is mystified by coes period piece about a young englishman abroad. At the end of the discussion, when it came time for voting, a majority picked expo 58 as their choice for best summer read 2014. Jonathan coes expo 58 is our fiction book of the month for september find out more in our interview with the author. First published by viking in 20, much of the novels action centres around the british pavilion at the brussels worlds fair.
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. On the other side of the atlantic, franzen, lethem and safran foer form a daunting triumvirate. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that the. Handsome, unassuming thomas foley is an employee at the central office of information whose particular biography belgian mother. The work was nominated to the 2015 longlist for the international dublin literary award. 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.
Jonathan coes tenth novel begins with historical fact. Expo 58 was an important historical event which still occupies a huge place in the collective memory of the belgian people. First published by viking in 20, much of the novels action centres around the british pavilion at the brussels. Jonathan coe audio books, best sellers, author bio. Expo 58 by jonathan coe spies, girls and an englishman abroad. There was indeed an expo exposition, or worlds fair in 1958, hosted by the belgian. Thomas foley is a junior civil servant working for the governments central office of information. Buy expo 58 by jonathan coe from amazons fiction books store. Jonathan coe was born on 19 august 1961 in lickey, a suburb of southwest birmingham. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. Handsome, unassuming thomas foley is an employee at the central office of information whose particular biography belgian mother, pubowning father makes. There can be no other writer in the english language or in any other language come to that who would plot a novel with a corn. The unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of jonathan coes brilliant new comic novel expo 58, read by the actor julian rhindtutt. 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.
For fans of jonathan coes classic comic bestsellers what a carve up. The unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of jonathan coes brilliant new comic novel expo 58, read by the actor julian rhindtutt sample expo 58. Expo 58 is a fine character study of a cautious man who faces several crossroads and ultimately takes the safest way out leaving him trapped, several times over. There was indeed an expo exposition, or worlds fair in 1958, hosted by the belgian government on. Expo 58 is a charming, refreshing, and breezy take on 1950s cold war politics and espionage. Expo 58 book charlotte mecklenburg library bibliocommons. I was attracted to this book after hearing jonathan coe do a reading at the penguin bloggers party. The espionage backdrop doesnt fit ideally with that, in part because coe presents it so cartoonishly. Expo 58 by coe, jonathan and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Expo 58, and perhaps offers a clue to its seemingly deliberate mildness. Expo 58 by jonathan coe if only jonathan coe had smirked a little less and told us much more about belgiums pivotal postwar trade fair, writes hannah mcgill.
Expo 58 by jonathan 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. Expo 58 by jonathan coe overdrive rakuten overdrive. 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. There can be no other writer in the english language or in any other language come to that who would plot a novel with a corn plaster. Coe has always enjoyed playing with different forms, but there is a sense here of the author shrinking from something more ambitious. At any rate, it hovers disconcertingly over his new comedy, expo 58, and perhaps offers a clue to its seemingly deliberate mildness. Its a pretty easy read refreshingly short actually.
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