Synopses & Reviews
The history of Cyprus offers a reflection of larger world history. Coveted by a succession of foreign powers, it has been repeatedly occupied: the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, crusaders, Venetians, Genoese, Ottomans, and British have all left their mark on this Mediterranean island. Alongside the Roman and early Byzantine ruins of Salamis, other impressive monuments date from the Frankish and Venetian times, including the Abbey of Bellapais; the fortified harbor of Kyrenia; the magnificent cathedrals of Nicosia; and Famagusta, the setting for Shakespeares
Othello.
In The Geckos of Bellapais, Joachim Sartorius shares the cultures and legends, colors and lights of the Levant. He explores the islands historyincluding its division after the Turkish invasion of 1974 and the difficulties that followed. A revealing exploration of Cyprus after the Turkish partition and an evocative account of one poets life on one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean, this book belongs among the worlds best travel writing.
Review
“A ravishing account of the enchantment of a poet by the landscape, the light and the people of this archipelago. [Sartorius] rekindles in us the wish to buy a ticket at once and embark for the islands.”
Review
“[A] delightful book. . . . Sartorius travels genially and wisely, observing, talking, recording the table talk at dinner parties apparently verbatim, and making friends with leading figures in the island’s life, particularly artists.”
Synopsis
The history of the island of Cyprus is, in many ways, an important part of world history. Coveted by a succession of foreign powers, it was repeatedly occupied; the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, crusaders, Venetians, Genoese, Ottomans, and British, and they all left their mark.
Aside from the Roman and early-Byzantine ruins of Salamis, the most impressive monuments date from the Frankish and Venetian times: the Abbey of Bellapais, the fortified harbour of Kyrenia, the magnificent cathedrals of Nicosia, and Famagusta - the setting for Shakespeares Othello.
In The Geckos of Bellapais we see the cultures and legends, the colours and the light of the Levant, the sediments of the islands history, including its division after the Turkish invasion of 1974 and the difficulties that followed.
Description
One of a three-part series of Lawrence Durrell's writings. In this volume he explores the island of Cyprus, evoking the sun-drenched landscapes, dazzling light and vivid blue skies of the Aegean.
About the Author
Joachim Sartorius has served as a diplomat to New York, Istanbul, Prague, and Nicosia. Currently, he holds a professorship at the Berlin University of the Arts, where he teaches cultural theory.Stephen Brown is a playwright, translator, and cultural critic. His translations from German include Sartorius's The Princes' Islands and Birgit Haustedt's Rilke's Venice.
Table of Contents
The Geckos of Bellapais
Three Poems by Niki Marangou
Three Poems by Joachim Sartorius
Acknowledgements
A note on place names
Selected reading