What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

This book was written in the 50's. It's a very grim book about immigration in which a giant ocean liner carrying thousands and thousands of poor refugees from the Indian subcontinent look for a place to land. There is nothing uplifting about the book - very very grim.

It was mentioned in the press in the 1990's and I read it then but I just can't remember the name. Thanks for any help.

Was it fiction or nonfiction?

I wonder if it's this one:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11...

A reviewer wrote:

"Perhaps one of the darkest dystopian novels. Raspail's novel does not get as much attention as it deserves, because the nature of the topic, unchecked immigration from the third world to the first world, is basically off-limits in today's political atmosphere.

The basics of the story are that, escaping dire poverty and filth, one million of the lowest of the low board ships in Calcutta, India, seeking home elsewhere--one million Indians crammed aboard a multitude of decrepit ships bound for somewhere, presumably a first world nation. The story focuses mainly on the reactions around France--the politician, the journalist, the professor, the clergy, and the army...."

Thank you Lobstergirl - that's it! Definitely a dark dystopian novel but I wanted to reread it.

Case solved.