Caledonian Road: A Novel

Caledonian Road is a sharp, darkly humorous, and emotionally layered novel that dissects British class, politics, and privilege through the rise and fall of several intertwined families—centering on the public unraveling of one man’s life.

The story follows Campbell Flynn, a celebrated art historian, professor, and media personality whose success masks deep personal flaws and financial troubles. Though outwardly secure—with a loving wife, Elizabeth; accomplished children; a loyal agent; and a polished public image—Campbell is burdened by debt and moral compromise, including a quiet loan from a school friend now embroiled in scandal.

Amid this growing instability, Campbell becomes involved with a brilliant, working-class student, whose intelligence and unconventionality remind him of the man he once was. As their relationship deepens, it challenges his values, ambitions, and loyalties—while also setting off a chain reaction of consequences that ripple through his family, friends, and professional world.

Against the backdrop of modern London—where art, politics, money, and social media collide—Campbell’s downfall mirrors the larger moral decay of the British elite. The novel explores the corrupting influence of wealth, the hypocrisy of intellectual circles, and the illusion of progress in a society still defined by class divisions.

By the end, Campbell’s personal and professional worlds implode in a dramatic and shocking climax, revealing how fragile privilege and reputation truly are.

Both satirical and deeply human, Caledonian Road offers a sweeping, incisive portrait of contemporary Britain—its ambition, inequality, and the cost of self-deception.