“We are deeply disappointed by this partisan manoeuvre by the SLF,” an Amazon spokesperson said in a statement. “Building on ungrounded and misleading claims, [it] hijacks the event for its own benefit and diverts it from its legitimate ambition – namely the celebration of reading, readers and authors.” Amazon said it had decided to withdraw in order to “avoid contributing to this absurd controversy”.

Right so… You want to celebrate reading, readers, and authors by not funding a book festival? It’s almost like it was never about celebrating reading, readers, and authors, in the first place but rather just an opportunity to put your big fat ugly logo everywhere.

And nothing of value was lost…