High and Low
On sale
7th May 2026
Price: £20
‘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
‘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
‘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?
Newsletter Signup
By clicking 'Sign Up,' I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Hachette Book Group's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Reviews
A huge treat. Her satirical take on the way we live now is always sharp and funny, clear-eyed and unsentimental
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
The most mischievous take imaginable on the way we live now
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
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