The release of Dan Brown’s book The Lost Symbol this week was the kind of “event publishing” usually reserved for books aimed at younger readers: JK Rowling’s Harry Potter or Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series.

The spectacle of adults speed-reading through a 500-page book has been welcomed by some, relieved that in this digital age, people still read the printed word. To others who deride Mr Brown’s literary talents the author’s popularity is at best mystifying.