It's the 1940's and a young girl picks her way through the remnants of a bombed out Berlin. Life is hard living in the rubble, but amid the bombs, the fighting and the eventual taking of the city by Soviet troops, the young girl and her family manage to eek out an existence by living on the edge and fending mostly for themselves. This is the story of the life of that young girl as told by Gigi herself. From the horror of Berlin during the latter stages of World War Two and the eventual Soviet occupation of her city, to her eventual escape through "The Iron Curtain," Gigi tells a sometimes difficult tale of abuse, slavery and imprisonment, lasting over several decades and finally ending in a little island off the coast of Australia. Curiously and unexpectedly, her story is also one of true love that never really dies. And, through it all, we learn that "The Strong Shall Live."

It's 1982 and a young, naive Australian fresh out of university decides that he has no purpose or direction in his life. What could he do to find his "Holy Grail"? The answer was so simple; a one way ticket to London, a couple of pairs of jeans, a back pack, a slouch hat, and a year of his life. The young man throws himself at the mercy of the world (Europe in particular), and begins his search. His companion throughout the epic voyage is an enigmatic fellow by the name of "Sam Gamgee," to whom he regularly communes, courtesy of a "little yellow book with the curious bywater paper." What begins as a tepid attempt to cure loneliness develops into an almost magical relationship between the traveller and the fictitious mentor. Instantaneous thoughts and impressions are often captured as they happen. From thoughtful notes penned while inside a sleeping bag in a French Youth Hostel, to hurried impressions scribbled while walking through "Checkpoint Charlie" at the height of the cold war, no opportunity is lost to record spontaneous observations. The story relates an unashamedly Australian view of the world, as seen for the first time by an ardent and wide-eyed suburban adventurer. He is looking for something, he is not quite sure what it is, but he knows that he will recognize it when he finds it. This cannot happen until a fair degree of danger, confusion and wonder has been encountered. As is usually the case with intense experiences, awareness is heightened, and the usual helpings of humour and romance occur. And of course, Sam Gamgee gets to hear it all