Bill Harvey: The end is in sight

I predict an avalanche of end-of-the-year articles claiming the many tumultuous events of 2016 as defining this as one of the worst (my view)/best (apparent electorate view) years in a long while. So I am going to use the last of my columns this year talking about escape.

I have always been a fan of the Victorian gothic story, especially at Christmas time. This year I have discovered the short stories by Ernest Bramah about the blind detective Max Carrados and will be decanting a crusted port and reading the fantastical tales of how he uses his super-Holmesian skills to crack the most fantastical of mysteries. Definitively worth a look, if only to hear the many put-downs he has for those who assume his blindness in any way hinders his activities.