Catching the wind is indeed difficult, as Nick Hunt relates here; his trans-European journey leads him from Britain's Pennines down the coast of Croatia in pursuit of the bitter Bora wind, and from a meandering journey of exhilaration and despair through the Alpine valleys of Switzerland, to his final walk on the trail of the Mistral—the "wind of madness"—which tormented Vincent Van Gogh. Hunt's journey links him with a cast of meteorologists, storm chasers, mountain men, and eccentrics, and his compelling account blends science and legends, history and literature.

"A wonderful book; reading it is like being introduced to a gang of complex characters by an entertaining and erudite host. It has been a joy getting to know them better and in all their moods." - Tristan Gooley