Legacy of strife: Cyprus from rebellion to civil war

by Charles Foley

Is Cyprus worth a single British life? Can Greek and Turk ever be kept from one another's throats? Can U.N.O. break the clinch, or should this strategic island, so vital to Nato, be united with Greece?

Since the declaration of the Emergency Cyprus has pursued a tragic and often shocking progress in which soldiers, partisans, priests, and politicians – some sincere, some sinister – have struggled and plotted to exploit the rift or heal the breach. Makarios, Grivas, Kutchuk, Lennox-Boyd, Sandys, Foot, Harding, and many other personalities have played out their opposing roles in crisis after crisis.

Charles Foley left Fleet Street to found and run the Times of Cyprus in 1955. He has been perilously concerned with the island during the whole period of emergency and independence. In Island in Revolt, which the Sunday Telegraph called 'the most comprehensive and detailed book to emerge from Cyprus since the Emergency', this gifted reporter provided an extremely clear perspective of the recent years of conflict and bloodshed.

He has now revised and largely rewritten his account for this Penguin Special, in which new chapters bring the story up to date and propound what may prove to be the only solution in a wellnigh insoluble dilemma.

Genres: Nonfiction

187 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1964

Reviews

[Mario]

Charles Foley was based in Cyprus during the period he writes about as the owner and editor of the Times of Cyprus newspaper and is a very good source when documenting what happened during Cyprus' battle for independence and the troubles that accompanied it, as well as having plenty of access to important players of that era. The book covers from 1954 to 1964 but mostly up until 1961, just after Cyprus' independence from Britain. Recommended as a good source of information for anyone interested in this era of Cypriot politics and very easy to read.

[Zenia F. N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book because it's written from the perspective of an individual journalist, hence it has an autobiographical feel to it. I tend to remember historical events better when its written from a civilian/personal point of view. I would recommend if you like reading war journals.