About Babylon, Albion

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.

Published by Saqi Books, May 2025

Praise

‘This book is a reminder of what we are always aiming for, and how beautiful this world can be. Al-Dujaili has a writer’s gift for weaving, for making life simultaneously legible and mysterious.’
Olivia Sudjic

'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

‘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

Radio and podcasts

Voices Radio | 13th April

Sexy Climate Change | TBA

Press

Events