The New Odyssey: The Story of the Twenty-First Century Refugee Crisis, by Patrick Kingsley, Liveright Publishing Corporation, 2017 (American edition). 368 pages.
In the begining of 2015, before migration became the year’s defining issue for much of Europe, editors at The Guardian newspaper appointed award-winning journalist Patrick Kingsley to be their first-ever migration correspondent. Though they didn’t realize it at the time, this role would give him an amazing opportunity to be a first-hand witness of the depth and breadth of the European migration crisis.
This book, based on interviews and encounters in seventeen countries across three continents, brings to life stories of refugees and other immigrants who cross the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas as well as the great expanse of the Sahara seeking hope in Europe.
Kingsley does not write from a biblical perspective and some may object to his political critique, but he does a great job blending story and analysis to paint a fascinating picture of the crisis, particularly as it unfolded in Europe in 2015.
» Learn more or purchase from Amazon (or elsewhere) for US$10-15, depending on the format. Also check your public library. A Pioneers colleague blogged about this book and another top pick on the topic, Seeking Refuge. See also A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea. The website Faith and Forced Migration published a review.
» Our friends at The Mission Table recently launched a new episode in their ongoing conversation about the American church and missions. This one deals with our response to the global refugee crisis (28-minute video).