This week the French have been commemorating the 200th anniversary of one of Napoleon's greatest victories, at the Battle of Austerlitz. Apparently, Napoleon's first ambition was to be a writer, just as Hitler's was to be an artist. So you can't help thinking people like that should be allowed to get on with what they wanted to be, as the world could soak up a few more trashy books and paintings.

To put it another way, imagine the damage Frederick Forsyth or Jeffrey Archer would have done if they'd taken up something that mattered.