Can you imagine the dislocation you might feel upon returning home from a war zone? It’s precisely this moment that award-winning writer and northern correspondent for The Australian, Nicolas Rothwell, begins his journey along Australia’s red highways.

Spurred on by a series of serendipitous encounters both here and in the Middle East, he hits the road to unlock the meaning of memories, conversations and images that have affected him deeply. What follows is a kaleidoscopic outback sleuthing expedition with a dream-like quality to it.

Rothwell’s treks around the Kimberly, Darwin and Alice Springs are guided and inspired by some fascinating characters, both living and dead. My favourite is straight talking roo shooter, Charlie, who says: we’re all philosophers out here – it’s not about the landscape, it’s what’s behind it. And The Red Highway is brimming with ideas ‘behind the landscape’, about life, art, travel, history, exploration, ‘desert logic’ and death. Readers best ignore the author’s own advice that some ‘things of beauty are best seen once and never looked at again’ and read this beautifully written book a second time.