This novel had been much-recommended—but I will admit that I approached it with a degree of reticence given that it extends to 656 pages, and my edition weighs just shy of a kilogram. Reading shouldn’t be this much of a workout.

The novel is set over the course of a year, beginning in the spring of 2021. The main character is Campbell Flynn, a wealthy and privileged academic art historian who is also a sort of public intellectual, appearing on Newsnight and the like to pontificate on all sorts. The heart of the story is about the impact on his life of one of his students, Milo Manghasa.

Campbell grew up in working-class Glasgow; but an Oxbridge degree, a move to London and a marriage into an aristocratic family perhaps softened his zeal for truly left-wing reform. Outspoken Milo, who has a fierce intellect, lives his left-wing views—which beguiles Campbell, even as he doesn’t quite understand what’s happening.

This book has been called ‘Dickensian’ for its ‘state of the nation’ portrayal of Britain. Like Dickens, it has a sprawling cast list which I slightly struggled to keep up with; but also like Dickens, the quality of the writing kept me steaming on through regardless.

It doesn’t, however, have the humour of Dickens, and I missed that element. There are witty and biting turns of phrase, but no real comic relief. There were also no real twists or turns in the story—this was a novel of slow, relentless destruction, which contributed to its heaviness.

All of which is to say… I really enjoyed this, and I’m glad I stuck with it, but I’m not sure it earned its length.