This is the story of a quest – a journey down the red highway.

On returning from a war zone, Nicolas Rothwell begins to explore the deserts and towns, sleepy coastline and hidden worlds of Australia’s north. As he travels, his journey gathers momentum and finds a shape. He has unforgettable, even mystical encounters: with a priest, an explorer, a collector and a hunter. It becomes a quest – for knowledge and a sense of home – that builds to a stunning culmination.

Nicolas Rothwell is among Australia’s most gifted writers, and The Red Highway is a one-of-a-kind book. It explores death, friendship, travel and art, and evokes a unique and mesmerising part of the country.

‘Rothwell’s calm wondering at what he sees and hears on his travels left me with a feeling of enchantment.’ —Robert Dessaix

‘Rothwell is a caster of spells.’ —Australian Book Review

‘A masterful and unforgettable book.’ —Pico Iyer

Nicolas Rothwell is the award-winning author of Wings of the Kite-Hawk; The Red Highway, Journeys to the Interior and Another Country. He is the northern correspondent for the Australian.