by John Berger
First published 1975
Amidst the crowds of anonymous migrant workers, one man seeks a better life. He joins the steady flow of the dispossessed, leaving his home to toil in the factories and fields of a foreign land. But the realities of this transient existence are stark - backbreaking labor, meager pay, and the ever-present threat of deportation. As he navigates this precarious world, his dreams of a brighter future clash with the grim truths of being an outsider in a system that exploits the vulnerable. Through vivid portraits and unflinching honesty, this book lays bare the human cost of a society that treats the migrant worker as less than equal.
Genres: 20th-century, social-issues, 21st-century, activism
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, social-commentary
Setting: Europe
Period: 21st century
238 pages · Paperback · Writers & Readers