The New Odyssey: The Story of Europe’s Refugee Crisis by Patrick Kingsley will feature on the Radio 2 Fact not Fiction Book Club on Thursday 5 May.
The book was selected with the help of a panel made up of Reading Agency and library staff from across the UK. Find out more about the non-fiction strand of the Radio 2 Book Club.
You can win 10 copies of The New Odyssey for your reading group – just visit our Noticeboard.
We have an exclusive extract available for you to read as well as some discussion questions for your reading group.
The New Odyssey
Europe is facing a wave of migration unmatched since the end of World War II – no one has reported on this crisis in more depth or breadth than the Guardian’s migration correspondent, Patrick Kingsley. Throughout 2015, Kingsley travelled to 17 countries and three continents along the migrant trail, meeting hundreds of refugees making epic odysseys across deserts, seas and mountains to reach the holy grail of Europe.
The New Odyssey is Kingsley’s unparalleled account of who these voyagers are. It’s about why they keep coming, and how they do it. It’s about the smugglers who help them on their way, and the coastguards who rescue them at the other end. The volunteers that feed them, the hoteliers that house them, the border guards trying to keep them out, and the politicians looking the other way.
Juxtaposed with the narrative of the wider crisis is the moving personal story of Hashem al-Souki, who Kingsley follows closely as he journeys from Syria to Sweden to seek safety for himself and his family.
Selection panel review
Our library reading panel loved The New Odyssey – here are some of their comments:
“A very readable book, looking at the immigration crisis today. As we follow Syrian refugee Hashem, we realise the true nature of his plight – his struggle for life. Along with other refugees from parts of Africa, the author examines their journeys and what makes them want to risk all as illegal immigrants. We learn of the industry that has built up around them – from the people smugglers to complicit governments. This very human story has mass appeal, especially as it’s a hot topic right now. The book goes some way to offering an understanding of why this is happening, so I feel anyone wanting to get a story from the inside will gain a lot.”
“A clear winner, the plight and experiences of refugees hoping for a better life. It is topical and emotional to read without being too sentimental. Definitely broadened my perspective.”
“Well written, heart wrenching and emotional. This important book brings the true humanitarian crisis and the interwoven mix of history, politics, good, evil, hope and survival that humans hold in them. I cried lots. This is a powerful and harrowing book. People need to read this book.”
About the author
Patrick Kingsley is the Guardian’s inaugural migration correspondent. He was named Foreign Affairs Journalist of the year at the 2015 British Journalism Awards and is a past-winner of the Frontline Club Award for print journalism. The Guardian’s former Egypt correspondent, Patrick has reported from more than 25 countries, including Denmark, where he wrote a travel book called How to be Danish. A percentage of his royalties from this book will be donated to refugee causes.
A word from Patrick
“Wow! Thank you so much for picking my book for not just the Radio 2 Book Club – but also for the shelves of all your libraries. It’s very humbling – and also, I hope, very apt. After crossing the Mediterranean and weaving his way through Europe to Sweden, one of the central characters of my book spent most of his time studying in the local library. I know he’ll be touched to know that lots of other people can now read about his extraordinary experience in the same kind of setting. Personally, I’m very excited too.
The New Odyssey is based on my reporting from 17 countries along the migration trail to Europe. I walked with hundreds of refugees over several frontiers, sailed with them at sea, and drank moonshine with the smugglers who send them there. The reason I turned this amazing experience into book-form was because I wanted these very moving stories to reach a wider audience – and libraries are the places where that can happen.”
Get involved
Tune in to the Radio 2 Arts Show on Thursday 5 May to hear an interview with Patrick Kingsley talking about his book.
Have you read The New Odyssey? You can share your thoughts with us on Twitter, or follow author Patrick Kingsley on Twitter.
Want to find out more? Take a look at the Radio 2 Book Club Twitter feed or find out more on the Radio 2 Book Club website.
