Andrew O'Hagan on Caledonian Road: Dickens, Drill Gangs, and the Dark Web

On this episode, we were joined by author Andrew O’Hagan to discuss his truly exciting new novel, Caledonian Road, which has been selected as the Hatchards Fiction Book of the Month for April.

Wedged between two epochal events that have shaped our age — the global pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — the story follows Campbell Flynn, art historian, TV presenter, London resident, and man in free fall, as a web of crime and conspiracy eviscerates his sense of self-identity and redefines what it means to be a “good liberal” at a time where nothing is above scrutiny.

Andrew spoke us to about taking inspiration from classic Victorian novels; how his time spent with figures like Julian Assange and South London gangs informs the book’s characters; why novelists should write without fear; and as Andrew is Glaswegian, we cover the city’s ill-fated “Willy Wonka Experience” that grabbed global headlines back in March.

Signed copies of the book are now available to be purchased in-store or on our website. 

Hosted by Ryan Edgington and Matt Hennessey.

---

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/vocalista/in-the-hall-of-the-mountain-king-acapella
License code: ARSRS82KANYK7CLW