As Anthony Powell noted at length, the universe sometimes resolves into what almost appears to be a pattern. So it looked to me when Martin McGuinness died of natural causes and was immediately eulogised by the political mainstream. Twenty-four hours later Khalid Masood drove a car into the pedestrians on Westminster Bridge and slaughtered a policeman at the gates of Parliament. Another 24 hours later and the House of Commons joined together in repeating the mantra that we never give in to terrorism. The universe itself might have snorted.

I happened to be on the BBC’s Any Questions that week and Masood’s actions had already knocked McGuinness off the agenda. As the programme came to a close I remarked to the presenter, Jonathan Dimbleby, what a shame it was that our verbosity on other matters meant we hadn’t got around to McGuinness. So, with their consent, after recording we gave the live audience a McGuinness debate for free. I thought it the most telling exchange of the night.

The Green Party’s Caroline Lucas shook her head continuously while I reminded people of the deaths McGuinness had been involved in. And when I pointed out that any future terrorist might look at the former IRA leader’s career path and wonder whether political murder mightn’t pay, she sighed dramatically. But I think the point stands. If Masood had survived his attack and gone on to lead an organisation that killed hundreds of policemen, rather than just one, there is no reason why he could not one day have become a respected public servant.

***

Some years ago a friend passed on the superb advice that whenever someone recommends (or much worse, gives you) a mediocre modern novel you should read a great novel you have never got around to. In just such a situation I realised that there were several stories by Turgenev that I had never read.

After reading “Mumu” in one go, I spent the following days reeling from the upset. Without giving away the plot to anyone who has not read it, it is about a mute serf who befriends a stray dog. Great literature often provokes this feeling of simultaneously recognising how much you have gained from a work and almost wishing you had not read it. There may be no serfdom to rail against today, but cruelty towards animals suddenly becomes a burning concern.