The French novelist Leïla Slimani writes explicit, provocative books about child murder and sex addiction. She is also a minister in the French government.

Another French novelist, Michel Houellebecq, wrote a book which imagined an Islamic takeover of the state and has described Donald Trump as “one of the best American presidents I’ve ever seen”. Earlier this year he was awarded France’s highest honour, the légion d’honneur, and his new novel, Serotonin, is riding high in the bestseller charts, fêted by adoring critics.

I reckon the French could teach us a thing or too here. Bear with me on this one. Slimani and Houellebecq are both provocateurs and intellectuals. They are serious thinkers who needle away at the moral values that underpin society with uncomfortable