Danziger is the stuff that legends are made of. In early April 1984 he set off overland to Peking on what must be one of the most extraordinary journeys undertaken this century. In the course of eighteen months and sixteen thousand miles he was beaten up, had his rucksack stolen, was bombed by Russian MiGs, chased by tanks, crossed no less than four closed borders, was hunted down by police and amid all this had time to engage in three love affairs. His is no ordinary traveller's tale.

I first heard of Nick Danziger in Iran. Already, within two years of his journey, Danziger's exploits had become legendary. 'He was a wild character' said one diplomat in the beleaguered British Embassy in Tehran. 'He started in the Pizza Express in Venice and he walked all the way here.