Andrew O'Hagan

London is changing, the old guard of family wealth is being usurped by new foreign wealth. Traditional roles are being sidelined and art, fashion and crime is becoming the role of youth. Meanwhile exploitation is still happening and no-one is safe. Following a group of people centred around academic and art critic Campbell Flynn, Caledonian Road explores how London has changed.
I really like O'Hagan's writing and this book is superb. The length may seem daunting but the prose skips along and it doesn't feel excessive. It may be high praise but I feel this book is like and update to the classic 19th century novels of life by Thackeray. The details are fantastic and nuanced, there's a gentle push at the woke generation and a stronger push at corrupt businessmen, the downstairs tenant is a real Dickensian character and the whole is so enjoyable that, for me, it sits at the top of the books I've read this year!… (plus d'informations)

Wow! This was a really beautiful view of masculinity. I'm female, grew up with sisters, went to a single sex female school, consider myself a feminist and have predominantly read female voices. This book presented a non sexist, non toxic male voice and characters in a really beautiful and reassuring way. These are the kind of men I would have liked to have met in my youth and grown up with. The setting in the 80s was something I could relate to particularly the social and cultural references - Britain, Thatcher and 80s music. Although the ending was sad it was handled in a really sensitive way. Very thoughtful and touching book.… (plus d'informations)