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Fiction, General Fiction

O Caledonia

Elspeth Barker (author), Maggie O'Farrell (author of introduction)

Paperback Published on: 05/11/2026

£10.99

6 reviews

Free UK delivery on orders over £25, otherwise £3.99

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Published 05/11/2026

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Coming soon
Published 05/11/2026

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Bookseller Reviews

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Quirky, devastating, brilliant

THIS BOOK!!! All those people who said I would love it were absolutely correct. The ‘I capture the Castle’ vibe by way of the Brontë sisters, with a sly up... READ MORE

Beth at Chesterfield at Chesterfield

Synopsis

'A sparky, funny work of genius' Ali Smith

At the bottom of a great stone staircase, dressed in her mother's black lace evening dress, twisted in murderous death, lies Janet. So end the sixteen years of Janet's short life.

A life spent in a draughty Scottish castle, where roses will not grow, and a jackdaw decides to live in the doll's house.

A life peopled by prettier, smoother-haired siblings, a Nanny with a face like the North Sea and the peculiar, whisky-swigging Cousin Lila.

A life where Janet is perpetually misunderstood - and must turn from people, to animals, to books, to her own wild and wonderful imagination.

A W&N Essential with an introduction from Maggie O'Farrell

Publisher information

Publisher: Orion Publishing Co
ISBN: 9781399640480
Number of pages: 224
Dimensions: 198 x 129 mm
Languages: English

Customer Reviews

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Caledonia is not a place for idle souls…

‘’At night, when the moon is high it beams through the dying cockatoo and casts his blood drops in a chain of rubies on to the flagstones of the hall. Her... READ MORE

Amalia Gkavea

Not really a Caledonian Girl

I was more than thirty years late to this book (story of my life!) and only started to read it after seeing a conversation about it on social media. My Lon... READ MORE

Mark Rasdall

Gothic tale about a wayward girl

Loved this book. It was very atmospheric, funny and just a great story with an excellent wayward girl as the main character. Can’t recommend enough

Nicola Larkin

O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker

This is a magnificent book and definitely in my top ten of best novels ever. The main character is Janet whose 16 short years of life are described in this... READ MORE

Agnes Brown

Gloriously Strange and Entirely Wonderful

This was everything I hoped it would be and everything people told me it would be. A magnificently dark, strange and macabre coming of age novel. It's like... READ MORE

Katy Wheatley

O Caledonia

Bookseller Reviews

Synopsis

Publisher information

Customer Reviews

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