The breadth and quality of A N Wilson’s literary output is phenomenal. A brilliant newspaper columnist, incapable of writing a dull paragraph, he is also the author of no fewer than nineteen novels as well as a wide range of non-fiction works, including acclaimed biographies of Jesus Christ, C S Lewis, and Tolstoy.

Two years ago Wilson wrote an epic study of Victorian Britain, which sold over 50,000 copies in hardback – the sort of milestone usually achieved only by books from celebrity chefs or alcoholic ex-footballers. After such commercial and critical success, most authors would have been content to take a bit