The racy novel portrays prostitution, drug abuse and political rows. It is set in the fictional village of Pagford but is inspired by Tutshill in Gloucestershire where Rowling spent her teenage years, which she described as “not a particularly happy time in my life”.

Potty mouth: JK Rowling’s proficiency at tossing out the F-word in her new book Casual Vacancy has irked the residents of the village she lived in. pic/Getty images