Ann Leslie at the Woodstock Literary Festival

To the picturesque North Oxfordshire village of Woodstock for a talk by veteran journalist Ann Leslie.

Situated in the charming St Mary Magdalene Church, the talk was an enlightening glimpse into Ann's very eventful career.

Currently writing for the Daily Mail, she came to journalism by accident after a conversation in a pub.

She told us about her interview with Muhammed Ali, where she had to punch him to get his attention, and how she secured an interview while on the campaign trail with then-Governor George W Bush by gossipping whenever he walked past her.

When discussing American politics, she blamed former president Bill Clinton for starting the subprime mortgage crisis, as he forced the banks to lend to impoverished minorities who could not normally afford mortgages.

Ann advised any foreign correspondents to read the books, watch the films and listen to the music of the country they are covering, in order to get inside the mind of those who lived there.

She also told us that many of the people she regarded as heroes did not have the consolation of fame or riches.

Her book, Killing My Own Snakes, is out now for £20.

If you want to know more about Ann's experiences abroad, life as a journalist or ever her attempted seduction by David Niven and Salvadore Dali, it's well worth the money.

I'll review it after December 25th, as I've asked for my signed copy to be one of my Christmas presents.

Until then, you can read a review by Johann Hari.