Even those who hate him agree - A.A Gill is hopelessly, painfully funny. He is one of a tiny band of must-read journalists and it is always a disappointment when the words ‘A.A. Gill is Away’ appear at the foot of his column.

This book is the fruit of those absences: 22 long travel pieces that belie his reputation as mere style journalist and master of vitriol: this is travel writing of the highest quality.