'Alice to Prague and In Love with the World are very different books with contrasting styles and perspectives and different stories to tell. Yet, fundamentally, the theme of the books is the same. Both authors choose to leave a comfortably familiar and orderly life among family and friends, and set off into strange territories to live among people whose backgrounds, experiences and expectations are alien to them. Both set out full of excitement, optimism and hope and both, at times, suffer severe disorientation, panic, doubt and terrible loneliness.' (Introduction)