Cypriot, The [Paperback]

A powerful love story set against the backdrop of the Cyprus conflict. The 1950s: the island is under British rule; the struggle for freedom begins. To the Orthodox Christian majority, freedom means enosis - union with Greece. To the Muslim minority, enosis means disaster. Andonis, a Christian, struggles for his own freedom: to be a tailor and escape family expectations of a life on the land; to be a Cypriot and be with his forbidden Muslim love. At stake are family and friendships, beliefs and traditions, village and homeland.

I am really pleased to announce that we are publishing 'The Cypriot', and are very excited about its prospects. It’s an engaging and dramatic story as well as a very human and sympathetic introduction to the history and culture of Cyprus.

At an important time for Cyprus, with the prospects of unification and Turkey’s EU accession, it strikes a highly constructive and conciliatory tone throughout. It doesn’t dodge the issues, but it presents them as complex, and accepts that no one side is blameless, or totally to blame.

It is human, nuanced and sensitive, it never preaches, and there are characters from all sides who are presented in a sympathetic light. The central theme is love across the divide. All of this speaks very positively to Cypriots from both communities, and can only help in the process of reconciliation that will be needed in the coming years.

The book is a fascinating general introduction to Cyprus and its history for the general (non-Cypriot) reader, and helps to build up an awareness of Cyprus outside the island and Cypriot communities abroad. Cyprus’s entry into the EU, and possibly tricky negotiations over reunification, mean that understanding and sympathy towards the island in the outside world has never been more important. This book packs a lot of background into its narrative, and does so in an approachable way, a way that will make people want to read it. It may have the effect of a history lesson, but it never feels like one.

Finally, the book is an exciting story and a rewarding read, from a Cypriot who has lived in London all his life, who is proud of Cyprus and passionate about its future (and a great communicator of that), and of whom Cyprus in turn can be proud. This is a great showcase for Cypriot creativity and talent. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

I suppose I'd been waiting for someone else to tell the human story behind the tearing apart of this tragic little island. I mean, what a great idea for a novel... and then the film! But no-one ever did - so I realised maybe I'd have to do it myself.

The success of Captain Corelli's Mandolin convinced me that there was potentially a huge market for a love story set on an idyllic Mediterranean holiday island - with conflict, war and tragedy as the backdrop.

If the recent history of Cyprus could be told so that outsiders could really get to grips with this wonderful little nation; weep for its continued division; if I could do that then maybe they might end up caring for the island's people - not as 'Greeks' or as 'Turks' but as 'Cypriots'. Then maybe these island people might, in turn, rediscover how to care for each other!

I hope those reading will get a taste for the island's unique culture - straight from the donkeys mouth. The food, the wine, the songs and expressions, the traditions and superstitions; the people's struggles and motivations. Their intense love of life.

I hope readers will get a deeper understanding - as I did during my research - of how this seemingly intractable 'Cyprus problem' really came about. How all sides had their role to play in sewing the seeds of division. How no one was without blame, and how all suffered - and continue to suffer.

I hope people will be able to empathise with the many colourful characters in the novel and appreciate their varying perspectives. Young and old, male and female, Christian and Muslim, left and right, religious and not-so-religious, Cypriot and non-Cypriot.

The most important thing I hope people will get from the book - the reason I wrote it in fact - is hope. Hope that one day soon, despite all the decades of pain and misery, devastation and division, we can start to make this beautiful island of love truly whole again. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

A story of love across a divide of religion and identity, of passionate loyalties and heart-rending choices.

The 1950s: Cyprus is under British rule. The struggle for freedom begins. To the Orthodox Christian majority, freedom means enosis – union with Greece. To the Muslim minority, enosis means disaster. Andonis, a Christian, struggles for his own freedom: to be a tailor and escape a life in his father’s fields; to be a Cypriot and be with his forbidden Muslim love. At stake are family and friendships, beliefs and traditions, village and homeland. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

ANDREAS KOUMI was born in London to Cypriot parents. He lives in
Southgate with his fiancée Margarita, and has been a journalist for the UK
Cypriot press and an advertising copywriter. In 1996, he established
Exposure, an award-winning youth media participation project, now a
registered charity with a staff of nine, and has made many appearances on
national television, radio and in the press. BBC Radio 4 have commissioned
an adaptation of one of his plays as a pilot sitcom.