Many of the people reading this — and surely all of those likely to care — are already aware the wildly popular fantasist/satirist Terry Pratchett was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease last year. (Announcing the diagnosis to his fans, Pratchett wrote: “I know it’s a very human thing to say ‘Is there anything I can do’, but in this case I would only entertain offers from very high-end experts in brain chemistry.” The man knows how to turn a phrase.)

This is very sad news for his friends and family, and to a lesser extent to his legions of fans. And then there’s this passage from his 1992 novel Lords and Ladies, which makes it sadder. The following is taken from a confrontation between the witch Granny Weatherwax (the book’s heroine), and the wicked Queen of the Elves. The Queen, being an evil queen, is taunting her captive in the high villainous style.