Killing My Own Snakes: A Memoir

'Gloriously funny . . . unfailingly entertaining' – Mail on Sunday 'What worlds she's seen, what a life she's had – at long last, the memoirs of the fearless, witty, indomitable Ann Leslie' – Deborah Moggach She has been shot at by Bosnian snipers, been pursued by Robert Mugabe’s notorious secret police, filed from the North Korean border, propositioned by both Salvador Dali and David Niven and been driven maniacally through London by Steve McQueen. But Ann Leslie’s life is every bit as remarkable as her career. A daughter of the Raj, she was born in India and the strongest influence on her early life was an illiterate Pashtun bearer, who saved her life during Partition. Her mother, a great beauty, was indifferent to her eldest daughter and she was sent to the first of a series of boarding-schools aged just four, eventually winning a scholarship to Oxford. After graduating she began her career at the Manchester office of the Daily Express, where the news editor took an instant dislike to her - she was a southerner, educated and – worst of all – female. Despite his best efforts she was soon given her own column. Then, after a stint covering show business she was appointed Foreign Correspondent of the Daily Mail, an association that endures today, almost forty years later, and one which finally allowed her real talent to shine through. Killing My Own Snakes is a witty, incident-filled account of an extraordinary life, a fascinating self-portrait of one the most influential journalists of our time.

About the Author :
Ann Leslie was the doyenne of women reporters for more than thirty years. In 2007 she was made a Dame of the British Empire for her pioneering journalism and for forging the way for women in the press world. She lived in London.

Review :
A smashing tale of history and handbags and the role of the bra in a danger zone Dame Ann Leslie is one of the greatest journalists of her generation. This is a masterpiece – always self-deprecating, always exciting, always witty A vivid, absorbing book which, like Leslie's best journalism, conveys what it's like to live through wars, civil conflicts, oppression and historic change A marvellous memoir of great insight and wit from one of Britain's most formidable and accomplished journalists This is a cracking read! If you want to know what journalism is really like, read her book: it's wonderful Ann Leslie has always seen the key details and written them down with a passion, tension and wit which remind us why journalists call assignments a "good story" A memoir that is not only entertaining but could serve as a vade mecum to recent world history You can't help being enthralled by this most extraordinary story. Leslie describes encounters with pin-ups and prime ministers, debs and dictators Ann Leslie is quite simply one of the most fearless, talented and witty journalists in Britain today A Daily Mail veteran who writes like a salsa-dancing viper Ann Leslie emerges from this memoir exactly as you might have expected: shrewd, hard and crafty, but also loyal, truthful and brave