Emma Jane Kirby's story of an optician helped us all to see migrant crisis more clearly

Emma Jane Kirby's book recounts an amazing tale of tragedy and kindnes amidst the refugee boats off Italy, writes Marjorie Brennan

EMMA Jane Kirby is an award-winning broadcaster but she is also a consummate storyteller, touching millions of listeners with her heart-rending dispatches from the frontline of the migration crisis in the Mediterranean.

Her book The Optician of Lampedusa tells the real-life story of Carmine Menna, an optician who lives on the Italian island which is one of the main entry points for migrants from Africa.