When we drew your attention to Mitchell’s new novel earlier this year, we mentioned that a character refers to “the sage John Sandoe’s of Chelsea” on p.149. It seems fitting, a matter of Aristotelian pride, to point out that this novel is tipped to win the Booker Prize this year (although, sage as we are, we are always prepared for a fall – at the time of going to press, the short list has not been announced)