Still a novel way to enjoy yourself

News of a record-breaking year for books sales is welcome indeed. Modern life boasts many distractions, with social media, video-gaming and television steaming services just some of the things that threaten to dominate our leisure time.

However, it is reassuring to note that – no matter the competing demands on our time – curling up with a good read clearly retains its lofty position as one of the nation’s favourite pastimes.

Even that, however, is potentially set to be impinged by Brexit – or so UK publishers are warning.

Suggesting that much of the success currently being enjoyed by the industry is down to “unrestricted access” to global export markets and indeed talent, the chief executive of the publishers association Stephen Lotinga warns against “trading away” such privileges.

It may seem far-fetched but it does show just how deep the Brexit negotiations go, and how seismic the impacts of the UK’s eventual removal from the trading bloc could be.

In the short-term, however, there will be few people disappointed by news of burgeoning book sales.

The love of literature may be enjoyed in new ways – with ebooks increasingly prevalent – but surely the most important thing is that people still understand and appreciate the power of the written word.

Long may it last.