theguardian.com
Coe's The Proof of My Innocence
A murder mystery set against the backdrop of a rightwing conference, exploring themes of nostalgia, political intrigue, and the limitations of literature.
English
United Kingdom
PoliticsEntertainmentMurderLiteratureNostalgiaMystery
NhsTruecon
Jonathan CoeLiz TrussTommy CopePru FreeborneBrian
- What is the style of humor in the book?
- The humor in the novel is described as "Radio 4 funny," meaning subtly witty rather than slapstick, with wordplay and understated irony playing a significant role.
- How does the novel incorporate metafiction?
- The novel features a subplot involving a fictional author, Tommy Cope, who serves as a stand-in for Coe himself, highlighting the self-referential and metafictional aspects of the work.
- What is the main plot of Jonathan Coe's new novel?
- Jonathan Coe's new novel, The Proof of My Innocence, uses a murder mystery at a rightwing conference to explore the decline of collective responsibility and the rise of individual aspiration.
- What is one of the key themes explored in the novel?
- One of the key themes explored is nostalgia, its allure, and its dangers in a society that has shifted from collective responsibility to individual aspiration, particularly in the context of Thatcherism.
- What are the different narrative styles used in the novel?
- The novel's plot involves the murder of an investigative journalist who was about to expose a plot to sell off the NHS, weaving together various narrative styles including memoir, autofiction, and a humorous fictional mystery.