Sir Ranulph Fiennes at Henley Literary Festival You may love a book, but is it always a good idea to meet the author? Might they be a disappointment – that creator of macho heroes a timid mouse, the expounder of sexy romps someone who appears to stay home alone in a garret?

Hundreds of people have been in Henley-on-Thames to find out this week, seeing what their favourite authors are like, how they put their books together, and whether the personalities match their creations.

The riverside town forgets boating and turns all cultured with 150 literary events during the week, with speakers ranging from royalty (Princess Michael of Kent) to sport (Geoffrey Boycott) to politicians (Paddy Ashdown) to comedians, cooks, novelists and more, most of them discussing their latest books.

My choice was Sir Ranulph Fiennes. I loved his autobiography Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know with its tales of derring-do and adventure, mishaps up Everest and frostbite in the Arctic and an eccentrically fascinating life story. He was here to introduce his latest book, Agincourt, subtitled My Family, The Battle and the Fight for France.

Who knew history could be so entertaining – especially when revelled in by a man whose ancestors fought on both sides of the battle. We’re introduced to many of his ‘cousins’ along the way, Fiennes on the French and English branches of this eminent family whose forebears include the Emperor Charlemagne.

Cousin Eustace, for instance, who commanded the army of William the Conqueror. In the middle of the Battle of Hastings he advised William to retreat to the ships because the English appeared to be winning. “If only that bastard, William the Conqueror, had listened to my cousin Eustace’s advice and had retreated to his ships, none of what followed need have happened” – the 100 Years War, Agincourt and all.

Henley Literary Festival continues until Sunday, box office 01491 575948, www.henleyliteraryfestival.co.uk