John Aitkenhead 
Silk Road 

Whilst attending university, Herman is selected to lead a group of unlikely candidates on an expedition to retrace the Silk Road journey of Marco Polo at the behest of a famous geographic publication and financed by a philanthropic trust. The trek takes them three thousand miles through several countries with hilarious consequences, commencing at Istanbul. The group consists of eight, plus three photographers, six camels, three donkeys, a Clydesdale horse, a dog and a Tiger Moth for surveillance and photography.There are seven men of differing religions, Christian, Muslim and Jewish, one of whom is seldomly sober, a lesbian cook, and two of the photographers are gay. They are joined on route by two very attractive Iranian girls who have a major impact on the demeanour of the group. As the journey progresses, their diversity finds common ground of spirituality, respect and love for each other.Silk Road is a story of adventure, humour, romance and the love of animals. It takes the reader through emotions of exhilarating joy and sadness on a journey of human trial and tribulation. It is bizarre, bewitching and beautiful, with an ending to satisfy the soul.