As a journalist, you sort of grind away, taking rejections as they come, building on whatever advances you've achieved.

I don't want to paint myself as some kind of saint - that would be laughable - but I do think I've been able over the years to write humanely about subjects who are controversial and even contemptible. I've profiled pedophiles, stalkers, serial rapists, prison gang members and corrupt politicians.

I think there's an underlying insecurity to Bush with a rather classical genesis - namely his being the eldest son of a famous father. I think this has propelled his need to be distinctive, to do big things.