Fighting a war in all but name

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Patrick O’Flynn

Reform is rattling the establishment

There is much in common between a Richard Holmes book and a bottle of the finest Speyside malt. Both look and feel good, full of promise. Extract the stopper from one, open the other and the anticipation quickens. After that it is a question of taste or habit as to whether you gulp them down for maximum intoxication or extend the life of the contents by savouring them gradually. For this latest Holmes volume I recommend a preliminary dram or two as the author sets the scene. Then take a breath of fresh air to absorb the implications of what you have read. Next, swallow the main part of the book in a huge gulp because you will not be able to put it down (but if you can avoid the malt while doing so you will run less risk of showing unmanly emotions as you read — those of a more demonstrative disposition will be done for anyway, so may as well drink away).