Cypria

A Journey to the Heart of Cyprus

By: Alex Christofi

Narrated by: Alex Christofi

Bloomsbury presents Cypria: A Journey to the Heart of the Mediterranean, written and read by Alex Christofi

SHORTLISTED FOR THE ANGLO-HELLENIC LEAGUE RUNCIMAN AWARD 2025

"A brilliant exploration of Cyprus’s long history of cultural resilience. Superbly composed." -- Guardian

One of National Geographic's Summer Reads 2024

Think of a place where you can stand at the intersection of Christian and Arab cultures, at the crossroads of the British, Ottoman, Byzantine, Roman and Egyptian empires; a place marked by the struggle between fascism and communism and where the capital city is divided in half as a result of bloody conflict; where the ancient olive trees of Homer's time exist alongside the undersea cables which link up the world's internet.

In Cypria, named after a lost Cypriot epic which was the prequel to The Odyssey, British Cypriot writer Alex Christofi writes a deeply personal, lyrical history of the island of Cyprus, from the era of goddesses and mythical beasts to the present day.

This sprawling, evocative and poetic book begins with the legend of the cyclops and the storytelling at the heart of the Mediterranean culture. Christofi travels to salt lakes, crusader castles, mosques and the eerie town deserted at the start of the 1974 war. He retells the particularly bloody history of Cyprus during the twentieth century and considers his own identity as traveler and returner, as Odysseus was.

Written in sensitive, witty and beautifully rendered prose, with a novelist's flair and eye for detail, Cypria combines the political, cultural and geographical history of Cyprus with reflections on time, place and belonging.©2024 Alex Christofi (P)2024 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Light and informative

I recently moved to Cyprus from Lebanon and have developed a strong interest in the culture and history of the island. As I work on integrating myself more into the local community, this book served as an excellent starting point, providing a clear and concise overview of Cyprus's rich history.

beautiful writing style

good narration, you can feel the author's love and respect for his country and, although I have no relation to Cyprus, the story brings you in and wraps you in it's beauty, story and pathos.Now am adding Cyprus to my next Euro visit.

The author's ability to truthfully convey both sides of the conflict fairly

Both the historical and recent political developments mentioned in the book. Many facts mentioned are unknown to the average Cypriot both on and off the island. The author's love for Cyprus and his personal journey was heartwarming.

The range of topics

Nice mix of the history, politics and culture of Cyprus. Believes in reconciliation. Well performed.