İngilizlerin Kıbrıs'taki Tarihi - Acısıyla Tatlısıyla Bir Ada

by Tabitha Morgan, Cumhur Atay (Translator)

Kıbrıs Adası, tarihi boyunca istilalara uğradı, dış güçler tarafından yönetildi ve kendi bağımsız gelişme dinamiğine sahip olamadı. Bunun sebebinin, Ada'nın Doğu Akdeniz'in stratejik bir bölgesinde bulunması ve her dönemin hegemonik gücü için yaşamsal çıkarlara sahip coğrafi konumu olduğu biliniyor. Kıbrıs üzerinde Fenike, Roma, Arap, Ceneviz, Bizans, Venedik, Lüzinyan, Osmanlı ve İngiliz hakimiyetleri birbirini takip ederken, Ada'ya egemen olan güçlerin sırası ile bölgede hegemonyasını pekiştiren güçlerin sırasının örtüşmesi tesadüften ibaret değildir. Ada öylesine stratejik önem arzetmektedir ki, bölgeye hükmetmek isteyenin Kıbrıs'ı elde bulundurması, neredeyse kaçınılmaz bir zorunluluktur...

Her yeni istilacı ile birlikte Ada'nın kültürel iklimi de değişimler göstermektedir. Pagan Roma'dan Müslüman Araplara uzanan, ardından Ortodoks Bizans'tan Katolik Lüzinyanlara varan ve yine Müslüman Osmanlı'dan Anglikan İngilizlere değişim gösteren egemenler yelpazesi, her defasında yeni bir başlangıç, her defasında farklı bir kültürel iklim anlamına gelmiştir...

Farklı egemenlik dönemlerinin hem içerik hem de biçimsel olarak birbirinden ayrıştığı, yani Kıbrıs tarihinin bütünsel bir kavranışı için her birinin ayrı ayrı incelenmesinin önemi inkar edilemez derecede açık... Bu anlamda Kıbrıs'ta İngiliz dönemini konu edinen elinizdeki kitap ayrı bir kıymet kazanmaktadır. Kitap, aynı zamanda Kıbrıs tarihine "etik" bir yaklaşımla eğilme kaygısındadır. Yazar daha "Önsöz"de, "İngiliz hâkimiyeti altında yaşamıı Kıbrıslı nesillerinin hikâyesini anlatmaya kalkmak benim için uygun olmayacaktı. O nedenle öyküyü, yönettikleri kimselerin değil, tamamen sömürgecilerin bakış açısından anlatan hikâyem, özellikle İngiliz Kıbrıs deneyimiyle ilgilidir." demektedir. Kısacası kitap, 1878-1960 arası Kıbrıs tarihini değil, Kıbrıs'taki İngiliz sömürgecilerin tarihini anlatmak iddiasındadır. Yazar, sömürgecilere ve onların Kıbrıs kavrayışına odaklanmış, bu kavrayıştaki kibir ve yüce gönüllülüğün pratik yansımaları ile ilgilenmiştir. Başlıbaşına bu bile kitabı ilginç kılmaktadır. Okurun rahatça görebileceği gibi, işgal edilen coğrafyanın gerçek durumundan çok, sömürgecinin kendi imgesindeki durumuna göre oluşturulan politikalar çoğunlukla ters tepmiş, sömürgecilerin şaşkınlığı ve hayal kırıklığı ile son bulmuştur...

İngilizler Kıbrıs'tan öylesine geçip gitmemiştir. Sadece Ağrotur ve Dikelya'daki "egemen" üsleri ile değil, iki halk arasına ektikleri ayrılık tohumları ile de hâla buradadırlar. Bu yüzden, nasıl geldiklerini, neler yaptıklarını ve ne düşündüklerini bilmek bugünün gereklilikleri arasındadır hâla...
Münür Rahvancıoğlu

Genres: History, Nonfiction

357 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Stella Rosegarden · Rating 3 out of 5]

“[…]82 years of colonial rule that began when Sir Garnet Wolseley’s troops stepped nervously ashore at Larnaca on a stifling August Sunday in 1878.”

In "Sweet and Bitter Island: A History of the British in Cyprus", Tabitha Morgan delivers a compelling and insightful account of Cyprus's complex colonial past, skillfully weaving historical narratives with her deep understanding of the region. With a background in English literature from Cambridge University and with over a decade of reporting experience, covering various issues and events related to Cyprus for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), her role as a journalist allowed her to dive deep into the region's history, culture, and politics, providing her with invaluable insights that she would later bring to her writing.

One of the book's standout features is Morgan's balanced perspective. “Politically, Cyprus, unlike any other colony, was an anomaly.” [...] She navigates the contentious aspects of British colonialism in Cyprus with sensitivity, acknowledging both the positive and negative implications of the imperial presence “The disastrous forests fires that resulted from Unwin’s policies had convinced his successors, Ronald Waterer and his deputy, Geoff Chapman, of the importance of listening to popular opinion in rural areas [...] Both men had been disturbed by the racial and social segregation they encountered on bard ship during their journeys to Cyprus.”

Morgan delves deep into the intricate history of British involvement in Cyprus, tracing its colonial past, political turmoil, and the socio-cultural impact on the island and its people. “Some British government officials saw Cyprus as a ‘neglected backwater’ after 300 years of sleepy Ottoman rule. Britain therefore, felt it had a moral obligation to restore Cyprus from a barren, neglected wasteland to its former fruitful prosperity in ancient times before the Ottomans.”
Her adeptness at presenting complex historical events in a coherent and accessible manner ensures that even readers unfamiliar with the subject can easily follow the story. “At the level of policy, doubts over the island’s changing strategic value led to confusion and an absence of long-term planning […] despite the enthusiasm and energy of the first British arrivals on the island, the foundations of colonial rule were far from firm.”

In conclusion, "Sweet and Bitter Island: A History of the British in Cyprus" is an engaging account of Cyprus' historical relationship with the British.

“Britain and Cyprus have too much common history and share too many memories - sweet as well as bitter – to shut the door on the past.”

[Jamesm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting read. I have always had a fairly positive opinion of Hugh Foot thinking he was the 'just right' goldilocks style person compared to he predecessors Harding (too stern) and Armitage (too weak). As such it was interesting to read Tabitha's analysis that Foot was actually fairly weak in some ways himself and that there was a big chunk of luck that nearly ended in disaster.

The Cyprus problem is so hard to work out - one group would always be upset if the island was governed by Greece, Turkey or Britain, so surely independence is the best option. If this is the case hopefully the gradual steps towards a once again reunited island can take place.

This is a very important subject, well told by the author - thanks for writing this book!

[Marina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific read! The absurdity of British colonial rule of Cyprus, along with its arrogance and frequent incompetency, in all its glory. Although by her own admission she’s not a historian, the author does a great job of relating the history of the British occupation of Cyprus, exclusively from the point view of the British, through archival material, unpublished memoirs and oral history interviews. She more than succeeds in her mission, as stated in the preface of the book, to tell the story “in an accessible manner which will be entertaining and informative…” The book is indeed most informative and highly entertaining, and full of delightful and fascinating anecdotes.

[M.G. Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are as many opinions about the tormented history of Cyprus as there are writers about it, and it's rare to come across one who is prepared to junk all the assorted shibboleths and give a straightforward account of what actually happened. This history of the British involvement with Cyprus pulls no punches, although giving credit where it is, very occasionally, due. Bitter Lemons, to which the title alludes, is written in a kind of romantic historical haze; Durrell is a better writer than Tabitha Morgan, but if you want to know the uncomfortable truth, Tabitha will give it to you.

[Panayiotis Christoforou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anecdotal and informative, Morgan attempts at care in her narrative, which it no doubt is. She is telling the story of the ethos, experiences, and mistakes of British rule on the island. The historical method could be criticised, but it should not detract from a readable and interesting work.