New Book Chronicle

Abstract

Migration is rarely out of the news, and the movement of people has become one of the most politically charged issues of the day. At the time of writing, Pope Francis is embroiled in a spat with presidential hopeful Donald Trump over the issue of Mexican migration to the USA, attempts to restrict the free movement of European citizens underlie much of the discussion of the forthcoming UK referendum and refugees continue to flee war-torn Syria. In such a context, the symbolism of Neil MacGregor's choice for his final curatorial acquisition for the British Museum is potent: a cross fashioned from wood salvaged from a migrant ship wrecked on the island of Lampedusa.