Daniel Trilling: Lights in the Distance Exile and Refuge at the Borders of Europe
'This powerful study looks behind the statistics and political slogans to reveal the human face of the refugee crisis.' Guardian
A mother who puts her children into a refrigerated lorry and asks ‘what else could I do?’ A runaway teenager who comes of age on the streets and in abandoned buildings. A student who leaves his war-ravaged country behind because he doesn’t want to kill. Each of the thousands of people who come to Europe in search of asylum every year brings a unique story with them. But their stories don’t end there.
In Lights in the Distance, acclaimed journalist Daniel Trilling draws on years of reporting to build a portrait of the refugee crisis, seen through the eyes of the people who experienced it first-hand. As the European Union has grown, so has a tangled and often violent system designed to filter out unwanted migrants – one that extends from the border into cities. Most of us became aware of the crisis when it apparently reached its peak in 2015, but the roots go much deeper. Visiting camps and hostels, sneaking into detention centres and delving into his own family’s history of displacement, Trilling weaves together the stories of people he met and followed from country to country. In doing so, he shows that the terms commonly used to define them – refugee or economic migrant, legal or illegal, deserving or undeserving – fall woefully short of capturing the complex realities.
The founding myth of the EU is that it exists to ensure the horrors of the twentieth century are never repeated. Now, as it comes to terms with its worst refugee crisis since the Second World War, the 'European values' of freedom, tolerance and respect for human rights are being put to the test. Lights in the Distance is a uniquely powerful and illuminating exploration of the nature and human dimensions of the crisis.
304 pages
The last order date for Christmas delivery is Wednesday 18th December.
Click and collect from the museum in Lewisham is available to order until Friday 20th December, with collection by Sunday 22nd.
We currently ship to the UK via Royal Mail 48 delivery.
We are hoping to expand our shipping options to include international customers very soon.
Prices
Orders under £45 : £4.50
Orders over £45: Free
Dispatch and delivery time
We dispatch all orders within 2-5 working days. Please allow at least 6 working days for your item to arrive.
We are a small team operating out of a venue which is open to the public. We will always do our best to keep you informed where there are any delays to our service.
Click and Collect
We now offer free click and collect from the Migration Museum in Lewisham Shopping Centre. Please note that the museum is currently open Friday - Sunday.
Ordering our organic cotton, sustainable clothing range
In order that we are able to offer a wide range of sizes and variations of our most popular design, we work with a print-on-demand clothing company. These items will be fulfilled separately from other items ordered from the Migration Museum and will arrive separately.