High and Low
'The most mischievous take imaginable on the way we live now' Francis Spufford
Published on 7. May 2026
Book
Hardback
336 pages
978-1-4087-1470-6 (ISBN)
Description
'Craig anatomises the state of the nation with wit and empathy' JONATHAN COE
'The most mischievous take imaginable on the way we live now' FRANCIS SPUFFORD
'Terrific' PHILIP PULLMAN
'Sharp and funny, clear-eyed and unsentimental' CLARE CHAMBERS
'She's such a skilful storyteller who vividly dramatises our lives with wit, wisdom and compassion' BERNARDINE EVARISTO
In the worst day of the year, and on the twelfth day of Christmas, a group of people come under siege in Cross St, North London.
A gang is hunting for a child who has been drawn into crime with tragic results; there is a riot outside the church where asylum seekers have been sleeping, and many cities have descended into fierce protests.
Inside the Literary Cafe, a group of writers, bakers and shopkeepers are sheltering. Their petty feuds and past quarrels must be forgotten if they are to survive a gang armed with knives and a gun.
Over a few hours, the divisions between high and low, old and new, haves and have-nots are thrown into violent contrast. Are they going to try to save themselves, or each other?
'The most mischievous take imaginable on the way we live now' FRANCIS SPUFFORD
'Terrific' PHILIP PULLMAN
'Sharp and funny, clear-eyed and unsentimental' CLARE CHAMBERS
'She's such a skilful storyteller who vividly dramatises our lives with wit, wisdom and compassion' BERNARDINE EVARISTO
In the worst day of the year, and on the twelfth day of Christmas, a group of people come under siege in Cross St, North London.
A gang is hunting for a child who has been drawn into crime with tragic results; there is a riot outside the church where asylum seekers have been sleeping, and many cities have descended into fierce protests.
Inside the Literary Cafe, a group of writers, bakers and shopkeepers are sheltering. Their petty feuds and past quarrels must be forgotten if they are to survive a gang armed with knives and a gun.
Over a few hours, the divisions between high and low, old and new, haves and have-nots are thrown into violent contrast. Are they going to try to save themselves, or each other?
Reviews / Votes
A huge treat. Her satirical take on the way we live now is always sharp and funny, clear-eyed and unsentimental * Clare Chambers * High and Low showcases Amanda Craig doing what she does best - combining a gimlet-eyed but compassionate view of the world, with a rattling good plot * Lissa Evans * A timely and unsettling portrait of London today, a city teetering on a knife edge between rage and hope. High and Low is in turns hilarious and terrifying, but always deeply humane. Another compelling novel from Amanda Craig * Vesna Goldsworthy, author of Iron Curtain * Amanda Craig is at the top of her game with this satirical, state of the nation novel, which captures with pin-sharp accuracy the rage, fears and uncertainty of now * Esther Coren * The most mischievous take imaginable on the way we live now * Francis Spufford * The book is wonderful. It reminded me of Bonfire of the Vanities in its scope and wit * Daisy Goodwin * Part state-of-the-nation novel, part literary satire, part siege drama... addictive * Guardian * Terrific * Philip Pullman * Mob violence and community spirit battle it out in this satirical state-of-the-nation novel from sharp-eyed, empathetic Craig * Mail on Sunday * Writing a state-of-the-nation novel that is also tense and funny is no mean feat, but that's what Amanda Craig seems to have accomplished in High and Low... Ambitious and far-reaching * Spectator *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Little, Brown Book Group
Product notice
Trade binding
Dimensions
Height: 236 mm
Width: 160 mm
Thickness: 32 mm
Weight
568 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4087-1470-6 (9781408714706)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Amanda Craig
High and Low
'The most mischievous take imaginable on the way we live now' Francis Spufford
E-Book
05/2026
Abacus
€12.99
Available for download
Person
Amanda Craig is a British novelist, short-story writer and critic. After a brief time in advertising and PR, she became a journalist for newspapers such as the Sunday Times, Observer, Daily Telegraph and Independent, winning both the Young Journalist of the Year and the Catherine Pakenham Award. Her novels Hearts and Minds and The Golden Rule were both longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction and The Lie of the Land was chosen as book of the year by the Guardian, Observer, Telegraph, New Statesman, Evening Standard, Sunday Times and Irish Times.