"His approach is thorough and his excitement contagious." -- The Independent on Sunday "An engaging and entertaining narrative." -- Sunday Telegraph "An inspiring blend of new-look, literary, post-Granta traveller and intrepid adventurer. A glorious roundtrip to desolation and romance." -- The Scotsman "A fascinating book of insight, scholarship and adventurous travel, fired by childhood dreams perhaps, but fuelled by the skill of a writer from whom, I hope, we shall hear much more." -- Sunday Times "A most unusual and delightful book, full of surprises, ambiguities and strange quirks of knowledge, and written with attractive gusto." -- Jan Morris "Teems with erudition, anecdotes and facts that are a delight to retell... carries an echo of Raymond Carver, or even Carver's mentor Hemingway." -- South China Morning Post