Has anyone read Middle England by Jonathan Coe?

[MutantDisco]

It's an interesting read. It contains a storyline about an academic who gets taken to task for 'transphobia' (an innocuous comment) but is cleared for reasons not altogether above board.

Just thought I'd mention it here in case anyone's read it?

Not read it but listened to the radio 4 version. Very interesting I thought!

The character who makes the allegation is a member of a group called Students4Corbyn Jonathan Coe is clearly uncomfortable with identity politics.

I read it! And saw him interviewed by Helen Lewis at the Cambridge Lit Festival. They were both fantastic.

The academic is accused by a rather militant student who hears second hand that the academic had made a flippant remark to a transgender student that she found it difficult to make up her mind (about something totally unrelated), or something along those lines. If that makes sense.

Anyway, the academic is suspended pending investigation then cleared.

She meets the transgender student during the suspension and they chat and the student is unsure about planned gender reassignment surgery. The academic suggests she takes some time out to think it through properly, which she does.

The student decides to have the surgery the following year and the academic visits her in hospital when she's in recovery. The suggestion is they stay in touch as friends afterwards.

The author seemed critical about the way the character's academic career was derailed by some seemingly vindictive report of discrimination based on hearsay - the allegation was taken far too seriously by the institution she worked for, for fear of further accusations of discrimination - PC gone mad basically - but in no way was the author being transgender critical.

I didn't think the author was being trans critical. I think he disapproves of left wing virtue signalling and bandwagon jumping, despite himself being left wing. He's obviously also seen what happens on Twitter when word gets out that 'someone said something'.

Yes have read it. It was a visionary sub plot. Reminded me of the white pube/Nina edge scenario.

Interesting take - from Coe himself - on the trans subplot here:

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/books/brexlit-takes-centre-stage-in-jonathan-coes-new-novel-middle-england-a3976771.html%3famp