Caledonian Road

Andrew O’Hagan’s sweeping social novel follows a celebrated academic whose carefully constructed life unravels amid scandal, exposing the fault lines of contemporary British society. O’Hagan moves through multiple perspectives — activists, influencers, oligarchs, students — constructing a panoramic view of class, media, and political disillusionment. His satire is sharp, but it’s his empathy for even flawed characters that gives the novel depth. The book feels both Dickensian and distinctly modern, capturing a nation in moral and ideological flux. It is ambitious, energetic, and richly layered, offering a biting critique of inequality and aspiration.