About the Book
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 who 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, she 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.
About the Author
Dalia Al-Dujaili is an Iraqi-British writer, editor and producer based in London. She is the online editor of The British Journal of Photography. Her writing has appeared in The Guardian, Dazed, GQ, WePresent, Aperture, Atmos, It’s Nice That, Elephant Art and more. She is the founder of The Road to Nowhere Magazine and in 2023 she was the Producer of Refugee Week. Dalia holds an MA Hons in English Literature from the University of Edinburgh.
Reviews
‘Stunning. Babylon, Albion hauntingly captures the tension of belonging and exile, the quiet grief of in-between-ness with exquisite precision.’ Alya Mooro
‘It feels impossible to put this book into such small words. Babylon, Albion is gentle and generous, tough and tactile. Absolutely beautiful.’ Rene Matic
‘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
