The Exiled

Trust no one. It is six months since the Arcadia set sail for the first time in forty years. But this wasn't the freedom the inhabitants were hoping for. Esther Crossland did what she had to do, but it has left a trail of destruction in her wake. Now the wrecked ship is abandoned. Its inhabitants are in exile, trapped in sprawling make-shift shelters made up of warehouse, tents, shipping containers. Esther and Nik, architects of the rebellion, are on the run. Esther is in hiding, desperate to do something to help her people, and Nik seems to have abandoned all hope, on a journey taking him further and further from home. And neither of them want to face up to their true feelings about one another . . . Not only that, there is a new villain in town. With the fall of Commander Hadley, it's left to the ruthless Admiral Janek to deal with the traitors, and her own past is beginning to catch-up with her. Then the shaky ceasefire negotiated by General Lall, Nik's mum, falls apart. Nik and Esther find themselves in a world of betrayals and double crossings - a game of power, with no one to trust but themselves. It's time for the final showdown.

Trust no one. It is six months since the Arcadia set sail for the first time in forty years. But this wasn't the freedom the inhabitants were hoping for. Esther Crossland did what she had to do, but it has left a trail of destruction in her wake. Now the wrecked ship is abandoned. Its inhabitants are in exile, trapped in sprawling make-shift shelters made up of warehouse, tents, shipping containers. Esther and Nik, architects of the rebellion, are on the run. Esther is in hiding, desperate to do something to help her people, and Nik seems to have abandoned all hope, on a journey taking him further and further from home. And neither of them want to face up to their true feelings about one another . . . Not only that, there is a new villain in town. With the fall of Commander Hadley, it's left to the ruthless Admiral Janek to deal with the traitors, and her own past is beginning to catch-up with her. Then the shaky ceasefire negotiated by General Lall, Nik's mum, falls apart. Nik and Esther find themselves in a world of betrayals and double crossings - a game of power, with no one to trust but themselves. It's time for the final showdown.

*LONGLISTED FOR THE 2024 HWA NON-FICTION CROWN AWARD* 'Immensely readable, emotional and important' KAVITA PURI 'A poignant exploration of empire, community and family' AANCHAL MALHOTRA 'Full of the sights, smells and tastes of what most remember as a lost utopia' SPECTATOR Uganda, August 1972. President Idi Amin makes a shocking pronouncement: the country's South Asian population is being expelled. They have ninety days to leave. After packing scant possessions and countless memories, 50,000 people stepped into the unknown, with more than 28,000 of them arriving in the UK in airlifts to begin new lives here. But their incredible stories have, until know, remained hidden. More than fifty years on, The Exiled draws on first-hand interviews and testimonies, including from the author's family, to reveal a time of painful alienation and incredible courage. Journeying across continents and decades, this sweeping work of reportage illuminates an essential chapter in post-colonial history - and its continued impact today. 'Full of humanity and touching detail' TOM PARFITT 'Deeply personal and powerfully eloquent' CAROLINE EDEN

*LONGLISTED FOR THE 2024 HWA NON-FICTION CROWN AWARD* 'Immensely readable, emotional and important' KAVITA PURI 'A poignant exploration of empire, community and family' AANCHAL MALHOTRA 'Full of the sights, smells and tastes of what most remember as a lost utopia' SPECTATOR Uganda, August 1972. President Idi Amin makes a shocking pronouncement: the country's South Asian population is being expelled. They have ninety days to leave. After packing scant possessions and countless memories, 50,000 people stepped into the unknown, with more than 28,000 of them arriving in the UK in airlifts to begin new lives here. But their incredible stories have, until know, remained hidden. More than fifty years on, The Exiled draws on first-hand interviews and testimonies, including from the author's family, to reveal a time of painful alienation and incredible courage. Journeying across continents and decades, this sweeping work of reportage illuminates an essential chapter in post-colonial history - and its continued impact today. 'Full of humanity and touching detail' TOM PARFITT 'Deeply personal and powerfully eloquent' CAROLINE EDEN