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Bitter Lemons of Cyprus book cover
Classic Cyprus Memoir Audiobook

Bitter Lemons of Cyprus

by Lawrence Durrell

Format

Audiobook Narrated by Andrew Sachs 3 hrs and 9 mins

Listen to a Sample

Free with Audible trial · Amazon buyer protection

Lawrence Durrell's account of his years living in Cyprus during the 1950s combines lyrical travel writing with a deeply personal chronicle of the island's turbulent journey towards independence. Settling in a village on the slopes of the Kyrenia mountains, Durrell immerses himself in Cypriot life, renovating a house, teaching English, and forming friendships with locals—all whilst political tensions between Greek and Turkish Cypriots escalate around him.

What begins as an enchanting portrait of Mediterranean village life gradually darkens as the EOKA uprising unfolds and Durrell's role as a British government press officer places him at the heart of the conflict. His eloquent prose captures both the island's beauty and the tragedy of communities torn apart, making this not merely a travel memoir but a profound meditation on colonialism, friendship, and belonging. A masterpiece of 20th-century travel literature.