Displaced: Refugee Writers on Refugee Lives

The Displaced is a powerful dispatch from the individual lives behind current headlines, with proceeds to support the International Rescue Committee (IRC). It brings together 17 fellow refugee writers from across the globe, including MacArthur Genius grant recipients, National Book Award and National Book Critics Circle Award finalists, filmmakers, speakers, lawyers, professors, and New Yorker contributors. Their 17 contributions are as diverse as their own lives have been, but hold just as many themes in common. The essays reveal moments of uncertainty, resilience in the face of trauma, and a reimagining of identity, forming a compelling look at what it means to be forced to leave home and find a place of refuge.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 16 April 2019
Publisher: Abrams

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen has collaborated with 17 fellow refugee writers from around the world to create a powerful collection of personal stories titled "The Displaced." The book offers a glimpse into the lives of individuals who have been forced to flee their homes due to persecution, conflict, and war. The refugee crisis, which has seen 68.5 million people flee from Myanmar to South Sudan, Syria, and other countries, is worse than the flight of Jewish and other Europeans during World War II and has surpassed anything the world has seen in this generation. However, in countries with the resources to welcome refugees, anti-immigration politics and fear are threatening to close the door. Even for readers who want to help, the sheer scale of the problem can make it difficult to comprehend the experiences of refugees.

Viet Nguyen, known as "one of our great chroniclers of displacement" (Joyce Carol Oates, The New Yorker), has brought together writers from diverse backgrounds, including Mexico, Bosnia, Iran, Afghanistan, Soviet Ukraine, Hungary, Chile, Ethiopia, and more. These writers are accomplished in their own right, with many holding prestigious awards such as the MacArthur Genius grant, National Book Award, and National Book Critics Circle Award finalists. They are also filmmakers, speakers, lawyers, professors, and New Yorker contributors, and many of them arrived as children in cities like London, Toronto, Oklahoma, Minnesota, South Africa, and Germany. The 17 contributions in "The Displaced" are as diverse as the writers' lives, but they all share common themes.

One of the key themes in the book is the distinction between "official" refugees and "illegal" immigrants. Reyna Grande's story explores the breakdown of a family forced to leave her behind, questioning the boundaries between these two categories and the challenges they face in their new lives. Fatima Bhutto's contribution takes readers into the virtual reality of Alejandro Iñárritu, providing a unique perspective on the experiences of refugees who are unable to return to their homes. Other stories touch on themes of displacement, resilience, and the search for a sense of belonging.

The proceeds from the sale of "The Displaced" will be donated to the International Rescue Committee (IRC), a non-profit organization that provides humanitarian aid and support to refugees worldwide. Nguyen believes that it is important to raise awareness and support for refugees, especially in times when anti-immigration sentiments are prevalent. "The Displaced" offers a powerful testament to the resilience and humanity of those who have been forced to leave their homes, and it serves as a reminder of the importance of opening our hearts and minds to those in need.

In conclusion, "The Displaced" is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the refugee crisis and the experiences of those who have been forced to flee their homes. Viet Thanh Nguyen's collaboration with 17 fellow refugee writers is a testament to the power of storytelling and the importance of compassion and understanding. By supporting the International Rescue Committee (IRC) with the purchase of this book, we can help to make a positive impact on the lives of those who have been displaced and are facing unimaginable challenges.

Weight: 210g
Dimension: 207 x 142 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781419735110