Nothing says love like The Art of the Deal

Forget Shakespeare's sonnets, the way to a diplomat's heart is Trump: The Art of the Deal.

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade boss Frances Adamson has revealed she received a copy as a belated Valentine's Day present from her husband.

"I was about to head off to Abu Dhabi, he said to me, 'Frances, I forgot to give you my gift'... and he handed over The Art of the Deal," she told the Australian Institute of International Affairs ACT branch annual dinner on Wednesday night.

Ms Adamson said her husband knew she had wanted to read it.

"After 27 years of marriage, this is what we have reached," she said laughing.

In the 1987 bestseller, Donald Trump and ghostwriter Tony Schwartz lay out the now-US president's "professional and personal world view", and provide a firsthand account of "the rise of America's foremost deal-maker".

Ms Adamson has started the book, but declined to comment on any insights she has garnered about how Mr Trump will behave as president.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is expected to travel to the US to meet Mr Trump for the first time in coming months.

The pair had a testy phone call earlier this year - clashing over a refugee resettlement deal struck with the outgoing Obama administration.

Since then Mr Trump has reluctantly agreed to honour the deal, subject to extreme vetting.