I know we live in a shock-numbed, media-jaundiced society. I know that even Guardian readers make jokes about sex-slaves and city bankers drink their own urine. I know that it is unfashionable nowadays to read the content of books and that the cover art and witty sub-titles are everything. But surely oh Islington, oh wearers of Philippe Starck glasses, oh modern world, surely this is going too far?

Probably not, actually