Jonathan Coe Releases Historical Novel Following 2024 Election

Jonathan Coe has published Lessons in Harmony, a novel exploring the friendship between composers Maurice Ravel and Ralph Vaughan Williams. The book releases through Viking on November 12. Coe, speaking from his home in Earls Court, west London, explained that the new work marks a shift from the political thrillers that defined his recent career.

Coe wrote Middle England in 2018, Bournville in 2022, and The Proof of My Innocence in 2024. He previously stated his intention to continue writing about contemporary politics. However, he changed course after a specific event in late 2024. He recalled being in a hotel in Cardiff on a morning in November 2024 when he turned on the television and heard that Donald Trump had won a second term. Coe described the news as a hammer blow, noting that while he had survived the first Trump administration and various British prime ministers, a second term changed his perspective.

Coe stated that he did not feel sufficiently informed about the global situation to write a contemporary political novel at that moment. He described the new book as a retreat into the past. The story is set in the early 20th century and focuses on Vaughan Williams moving to Paris for tutelage from Ravel. The plot addresses Vaughan Williams' desire to move away from Wagner-influenced music and incorporate English folk songs to capture the soul of the country.

The novel includes a detailed afterword that distinguishes between historical fact and Coe's invention. The author noted a tendency for readers to confuse semi-fictionalized stories with history, citing a memory of a viewer reacting to the 2006 film The Queen as if Tony Blair had actually spoken to the Queen in the depicted manner. Coe said he includes the afterword to tell readers exactly where the line is drawn between fiction and reality.

Coe also addressed the book's title. He expressed concern that readers might confuse it with Bonnie Garmus's Lessons in Chemistry. His publisher suggested that the similarity was an advantage because it might lead to accidental purchases. The author also connected the subject matter to his own musical interests, noting that Ravel and Erik Satie represent the birth of modern pop music. He cited hearing a cover of Satie's Gymnopédie No 1 by the band Sky as the moment he realized where modern progressive music originated.

The author's band, The Peer Group, released an album on Spotify this year. Coe joked that he lacks the 90 percent attitude required to be a pop musician, having only 10 percent talent. He remains active on Instagram and Bluesky, though he finds X to be a bad place for mental health. He reported that his writing output has increased since adopting social media, as it provides a source of ideas. Coe said he currently lacks a specific idea for his next book, a rare occurrence for him.

The publication of Lessons in Harmony coincides with a period of political anticipation. While Coe did not confirm his next project's genre, the timing of the release precedes another US election. The book includes a playlist of music by Ravel and Vaughan Williams, available on streaming platforms.