Babylon, Albion - by Dalia Al-Dujaili (Hardcover)

About the Book

A lyrical inquiry into how identity is informed by the natural world.

Book Synopsis

Whoever said nature is still has not borne witness to the migration of the seasons.

In this lyrical enquiry, Dalia Al-Dujaili considers what it means to belong in your land. She traces the rich heritage of the earth beneath our feet and the wildlife that call it home - from the oak tree and date palm to fairytale creatures, such as dragons, unicorns and the ancient Lamassu. Weaving together Arab and Islamic mythology with the English and Christian pastoral, Al-Dujaili unmasks the communal lush, familiar and, at times, dark places we share.

A love song to Britain, Iraq and the body of earth we hold in common, Babylon, Albion is a compelling re-imagining of what it means to be native.

Review Quotes

'As someone who was born in Iraq and raised in England, Babylon, Albion felt like coming home to both. It took me on an emotional journey that felt incredibly personal, forcing me to connect with feelings and memories I tucked far away. Beautiful.' --Hind Hassan

'It feels impossible to put this book into such small words. Babylon, Albion is gentle and generous, tough and tactile. Absolutely beautiful.' --Rene Matic

'Stunning. Babylon, Albion hauntingly captures the tension of belonging and exile, the quiet grief of in-between-ness with exquisite precision.' --Alya Mooro

'This masterful interpretation of the migrant's predicament is both unique and universal. Like the young oaks she writes about, Dujaili offers something ancient but also something new. The result is a powerful ode to our collective ancestors, east and west, and to the future.' --Sundus Abdul Hadi

About the Author

Dalia Al-Dujaili is an Iraqi-British writer, editor and
producer based in London. She tells stories from the SWANA region and diaspora
and reports on community-led stories from the margins. Her writing has appeared
in The Guardian, Huck, The New Arab among others. Dalia is the Digital
Editor of AZEEMA Magazine and the founder of The Road to
Nowhere magazine. She has worked with migrant charities including Paper
Airplanes, Restless Beings, Counterpoints, Gaza Library, the IRC and The
Migrant Rights Network. In 2023 she was the Producer of Refugee Week. Dalia
holds a first-class degree in English Literature from the University of
Edinburgh.