> In the nov­els of Ian McE­wan, a pat­tern recurs. The main char­ac­ter makes a mis­take — just one — which then hangs over them forever. ... This plot trick is said to be unbe­com­ing of a ser­i­ous artist.

Hmm, yet Thomas Hardy is (correctly IMHO) is considered a great artist worthy of having novels like The Mayor of Casterbridge included in the canon.