With the penetrating gaze of a sociologist and the political analysis of an experienced diplomat, Michalis Attalidis narrates the modern history of Cyprus without excluding lyricism, simultaneously infused with caustic realism, in parallel with the history of his family.
He recounts with particular insight and sensitivity the transition of a people enslaved by the Ottoman Empire to subjects of Great Britain, to freedom fighters who transformed them into citizens of the Republic of Cyprus and European citizens. This journey is intertwined with the history of a family that participated in the events at every stage.
His narrative sheds light on the barriers of backwardness that kept Cypriot society stagnant and nurtured the causes of the collapse of the bi-communal state, ultimately rendering it vulnerable to the coup and the Turkish invasion, leading to the occupation of half of Cyprus from 1974 to the present day.
His life, rich in experiences as he lived, studied, and worked in many countries, bears the indelible mark of the trauma of the invasion and the occupation of his beloved homeland, particularly of his native Karpasia, from where he was expelled in 1974, losing his natural and existential paradise. Since 1974, he has been trying to heal this trauma, having dedicated his life to the struggle for the reunification of Cyprus.
