THE AMAZING STORY OF THE MAN WHO CYCLED FROM INDIA TO EUROPE FOR LOVE

by Per J. Andersson, Allen & Unwin.

Everything about this true-life romance runs long: its title, the full name of its hero (373 letters!), and the bicycle journey he took to be reunited with the Swedish tourist, Charlotte, he met in Delhi in 1975. It is the unlikely story of a cute meet – she asked him to sketch her portrait – and a whirwind romance, culminating in a tribal marriage. But Charlotte had to return home, leaving her unofficial husband, known as PK, to work out how to bridge the 7000km separating them. Flying was out of the question so he got on his bike. He crossed countries and continents and this story of how he made it, and how they are still together 40 years on with two children, is as charming as any fairytale.