And yet, I’m strongly told that today’s books with their heavy dependence on reality, and the portrayal of the amazing range of depravity and degradation that the human race is capable of, are spoiling the youth and turning them into lascivious and sadistic freaks, who believe that it is acceptable to be depraved. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. It is my firm belief that a good piece of literature is one that transports you into an alternative reality, one that is far, far away from one’s own world, and gives flight to one’s imagination. Lolita, for instance, is not about paedophilia, but about the twisted beauty that can exist in the mind of a rapist. Lolita is poetic and wild and beautiful beyond belief. What a shame to interpret it as an ode to paedophilia!

In fact there are only two varieties of books – good and bad. The former uplift you upon reading them, and the latter make you want to sink in shame and despair. There can be no other interpretation of literature. Literature does not encourage depravity – it’s only role is to release mankind from it.