By Edward St Aubyn. Part 5 of the Patrick Melrose series.

Many memorable turns of phrases. Some highlights:

• You are ceasing to be something which you would have done better never to become (Schopenhauer's remark to a dying friend).
• You can take the brandy out of the fruit cake but you’re still left with the fruit cake.
• I’m having relationship problems. The problem is that the person I’m having a relationship with doesn’t know he’s in a relationship.