A Seventh Man

A Seventh Man, by John Berger (text) and Jean Mohr (photographs), first publication in 1975.

This seminal classic explores the fate of migrant workers.

First published in 1975, this finely wrought investigation remains as urgent as ever, presenting the life of those who have travelled to live and work in Europe. Art critic, novelist, and artist John Berger brings humanity and a voice to those silenced in the political debate about who does and doesn’t belong.

Why does the Western world look to migrant labourers to perform the most menial tasks? What compels people to leave their homes and accept this humiliating situation? In A Seventh Man, Berger and Jean Mohr come to grips with what it is to be a migrant worker – the material circumstances and the inner experience – and, in doing so, reveal how the migrant is not so much on the margins of modern life but at its centre.

John Berger 1975 A Seventh Man - All covers
John Berger 1975 A Seventh Man - 1st edition
1975 A Seventh Man - Recent cover © John Berger Estate
, , , , ,

JOHN BERGER

Storyteller, essayist, novelist, screenwriter, playwright, painter and critic, John Berger (1926-2017) is one of the most internationally influential writers of the last fifty years. Solo or in collaboration with Jean Mohr for example, he published more than 30 titles, the Booker Prize winning novel G and the best-seller Ways of Seeing. He has also published articles in the most important newspapers around the world.

He used to work and live in Quincy, a small French peasant community, the setting for his trilogy Into their Labours.

Painters, cineasts, writers, dancers, curators have been and are still inspired by his work, this website is a window on these TODAY creations.