'Trilling [brings] his reader as close as possible to the actual circumstances of those who have found their way to Calais, or to Catania in Sicily or to London or to Athens, only to find themselves condemned to occupy space, rather than live.' Observer

Each of the thousands of people who come to Europe in search of asylum every year brings with them a unique experience. But their stories don't end there. In Lights In The Distance, journalist Daniel Trilling draws on years of reporting to build a portrait of the refugee crisis, seen through the eyes of people who experienced it.

Visiting camps and hostels, sneaking into detention centres and delving into his own family's history of displacement, Trilling weaves together the stories of people he met and followed from country to country. In doing so, he shows that the terms commonly used to define them - refugee or economic migrant, legal or illegal, deserving or undeserving - fall woefully short of capturing the complex realities.

'In Lights in the Distance, [Daniel Trilling] illuminates the vast human tragedy behind newspaper headlines about refugees.' Pankaj Mishra

'If knowledge is the foundation of action, then [Trilling] has done us a great service by turning masses and numbers into people whom we like, who we can see are like us.' New Statesman

'Subtle but effective . . . such a powerful book.' Irish Times