Matthieu Aikins, a journalist and author, documented his journey accompanying a friend, a former US military interpreter, as they navigated the smuggler's road to Europe during the 2015 migration crisis. He utilized The New York Public Library’s Allen Room for research while writing his book on Afghan refugees. Aikins relies on tools like Devonthink for research management and Scrivener for writing, finding the Library's resources invaluable, enjoying consultations with librarians, and discovering unexpected historical perspectives in his research.
I found a contemporary review of Jack London's The People of the Abyss (1903) that used some shockingly colonial language to describe the conditions of impoverished people. It was a stark reminder of how narratives surrounding migration can be heavily influenced by cultural perspectives.
In 2017, I was a writer for magazines and writing my book about Afghan refugees. I was interested in working in the Allen Room at the NYPL. I’d heard such high praise from friends.
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