First published 1994
Lawrence Durrell arrives in Cyprus as a cash-strapped writer seeking tranquility and an affordable Mediterranean home. He finds both in a stunning old house on the beautiful island. Durrell settles into what seems like an idyllic expatriate existence, complete with colorful neighbors and amusing local adventures. But Cyprus transforms around him as Greek and Turkish communities clash in an increasingly violent struggle for the island's future. The revolt ignites and destroys Durrell's peaceful new life. Political upheaval shatters the world he has come to love. Durrell watches helplessly as bureaucratic indifference and mountain guerrillas tear apart the place and people he has grown to cherish. His Mediterranean dream becomes a meditation on loss, as both personal tranquility and an entire way of life crumble under the weight of Cyprus's battle for self-determination.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, adventure, biography-memoir
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, loss
Setting: Cyprus
Period: 20th-century
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