Rodis Roufos published "The Bronze Age," a novel about the struggle for independence in Cyprus, in 1960. Although Roufos wrote the novel in English and published it in London to present the Greek perspective to the English audience, his book was essentially ignored by this audience.

This indifference is particularly problematic for scholars of Durrell, as Roufos wrote "The Bronze Age" in response to Lawrence Durrell's book about Cyprus, whom he had once met on the island. There are traces of colonialist mentality in the way some readers of Durrell still speak of "Bitter Lemons" as an honest or even philhellenic book, without noting, and indeed without even being aware, that a Greek and Cypriot response to "Bitter Lemons" has been published.

Thanks to the generosity of Arietta Roufos, widow of Rodis Roufos, a chapter of "The Bronze Age," which refers to Durrell's book and was removed from the text due to the fear of being considered defamatory, is published here for the first time. I hope that when Rodis Roufos has said all he needs to say, readers will view "Bitter Lemons" with a more critical eye. (David Roessel)

Once again, Roufos achieves with "The Bronze Age" a remarkable balance between reality and fiction. Durrell was once helpful to Greece, but not always beneficial to our land. He is undoubtedly one of the strongest writers of post-war English literature. On the other hand, Rodis Roufos is the faithful echo of the Greek post-war adventure, steadfast and consistent with the principles of the Greek citizen, as handed down to us by ancient Greek texts. He belongs to that rare breed that is gradually disappearing in our times, a time that still remains bronze. (Dimitris Daskalopoulos)