This year's heavy hitter is Bobby Bonilla, the Pirates' slugger who's seeking to hit the biggest home run of his life.

‘Jesus suffering fuck,’ said Adrian. ‘It's not half a thought.’ ‘Face it, it's a wow.’

He heard the silken rustle of a dressing-gown being drawn on.

That dinner at the King’s Arms with his friends had been Henchard’s Austerlitz: he had had his successes since, but his course had not been upward.