Book recommendation please

AndyR



Joined: 23/04/2009
Posts: 317

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 10:30

I'd like to have a better understanding of the recent history of Cyprus, say from 1900 onwards. Can anyone recommend an unbiased book that looks objectively at this period?

Thanks

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 11:20

@ msg 1, AndyR: Dangerous subject! You're looking for a narrow, safe footpath in a wide minefield. Search the Internet for books about Cyprus (thousands!) and read/judge the comments on the content by other readers. Then make up your own mind about bias and more.

lionel


Joined: 21/04/2011
Posts: 179

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 11:26

Genocide files ...harry Scott Gibbons ..i think is the Author

AndyR



Joined: 23/04/2009
Posts: 317

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 13:08

DC, I've done that and have a few titles in mind, but as you say, there are a huge number. Frequently there are less well known books that you only find through personal recommendation.

I've seen a couple mentioned on Cyprus44 before but have been unable to find the threads, so I'm still open to recommendations from anyone else.

Lionel, thanks, I've found it on Amazon and it is by Harry Scott Gibbons.

Carndi


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 613

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 13:19

The history of the Turkish resistance movementn TMT ( Turk Mukavemet Teskilati ) is given in the book

' In Reality No One Was Asleep ' by Ismail Tansu.

The Turkish army and politicians wanted to solve the problem by peaceful means as Turkey and Greece were alies in NATO but when EOKA ( the Greek underground organization ) started targeting Turkish Cypriots then TMT was founded with the support of Turkey.

A good read.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 13:23

@ msg 4, AndyR: Genocide Files: it's for sale in the book- and newspaper shop in Girnes main street (down the street from the Belediye (townhall), on you left hand - I estimate it's about 100 metres). 20 TL if I remember well.



@ Books: It would help if you mention in which areas of Cyprus's history from 1900 you're interested. It's impossible to write it all in one book!

AndyR



Joined: 23/04/2009
Posts: 317

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 13:31

DC, I'm in the UK at the moment but thanks for the tip anyway!



I'm specifically interested in the origins of and lead up to the partition of the island (in all forms, enclaves to green line to ROC and TRNC) . I think I have a balanced view but am genuinely interested in the viewpoint of all participants. I also have an opinion on this, which I'd like to clarify (or even change if it comes to that) for my own reasons. It's also an opinion that I choose to keep to myself!



Has anyone read 'Aphrodite's Killers' by David Carter?

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 15:33

AndyR, there simply is no single unbiased book than can be read alone and provides a complete neutral picture.



A couple I would recommend are "Burdened with Cyprus: THe British Connection" by John Reddaway.



another would be



The Cyprus Conflict by Zenon Stavrinides

Zoots


Joined: 05/02/2011
Posts: 669

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 16:45

AndyR,

You mentioned you're looking for objectivity and not bias so I'm afraid that rules out Genocide Files by Scott Gibbons right away. This book was a Turkish-commissioned and funded propaganda piece, though it clearly goes down well with some who have invested in the TRNC.

Try Cyprus - Hostage to History by Christopher Hitchens or The Cyprus Conspiracy by O'Malley and Craig. Another good one is A Business of Some Heat by Francis Henn, a commander of the UN force in Cyprus at the time of the Turkish invasion who clearly saw things on both sides. It also tells of the little-known Nicosia Airport Incident, when the United Nations came very close to going to war with Turkey.

Awrabest.

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 16:53

Christopher Hitchens first wife is Greek Cypriot. As to if this 'colors' his views on Cyprus or not and to what degree that is down to each indivdual to decide. My personal view is that it does clearly color his views and opinions about Cyprus.



It's also interesting that when the OP asks for books about recent history of Cyprus from say 1900 onwards, you (zoots) offer a book that starts in 1974. Now where else do we hear the thesis that the 'problem' started in 1974 I wonder ?

AndyR



Joined: 23/04/2009
Posts: 317

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 18:49

Thanks for all the info everyone, plenty there for me investigate!

erolz, you're right, it's not just what happened in the 70's that interests me, it's where the problems originated and how they were allowed to escalate.

I asked for recommendation for books that are unbiased and objective, but I'm a realist and know that I'll end up with several books from different perspectives. What I hope to do is cut out the 'everything is their fault' attitudes, for every side.

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 18:53

Andy the reason I suggested the books I did is that they come close to being 'unbiased'. The John Reddaway recounts events from a 'British' persepctive , so is bias in that regard but it does tend to try and be balanced between the GC and TC perspectives, offering insight into each.



The other book is one written by a GC yet that is considered quite blanced by some TC and indeed 'treachery' by the more rabid right wing nationalistic GC elements. It is not unbiased but it is more balanced then most imo.

AndyR



Joined: 23/04/2009
Posts: 317

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 18:58

Thanks erolz, I will look at these.

Do you have an opinion on 'Aphrodite's Killers' by David Carter. It's one book that I have seen advertised in several places (online)?

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 19:04

I am afraid I have not read it myself so can not comment really on the book itself. The now sadly departed author David Carter would be seen by some as being too sympathetic to the TC perspective based on his previous books the Cyprus Tapes and his having lived in the North and having written in the past for NC papers like the Cyprus Today.

AndyR



Joined: 23/04/2009
Posts: 317

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 19:07

OK erolz, thanks.



Mods, my query has been pretty comprehensively answered over the course of the day. Feel free to close the thread if you want.

rowlo



Joined: 12/10/2008
Posts: 4796

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 20:05

try the death of friendship , good unbiased read .

Zoots


Joined: 05/02/2011
Posts: 669

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 20:45

rowlo,



Death of Friendship is another Turkish-sponsored propaganda piece in the same vein as Genocide Files.

As for David Carter, the most significant issue was his self-declared personal friendship and admiration for Denktas, which I'm surprised has not been mentioned above. You can write for any newspaper and maintain credibility but the minute you start cuddling up to extreme an extreme nationalist who was ultimately rejected by the Turkish Cypriots, your credibility has gone.

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 20:55

Lets be clear here shall we. Books like genocide files and the death of friendship are propagandistic in the sense that they tell the story from one perspective, the death of friendship for example is the personal account of a TC nurse. It does not mean that what is recounted in those books is untrue in any way, just that they do not seek to tell the story from any other perspective. As such as long as you understand this they are valuable resources in gaining an over all picture in my view.



I also have to have a wry smile at the desription of Denktash as being 'ultimately rejected by the Turkish Cypriots'. I mean of what political figured can it be claimed they were no 'ultimately rejected' by their electorate directly or indirectly. Other than a handful who were have been assisnated whilst in power it pretty much applies to every political leader the world over. The fact that this 'extreme nationalist' was voted into power for over 30 years is of course not relevant.

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 20:59

just as a comparision try



"the extreme nationalist Churchill who was ultimately rejected by the British people."



Creates quite an 'impression' no ? Not quite a truthful or accurate description though I would suggest.

Turtle


Joined: 28/05/2007
Posts: 2669

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 21:18

Getting it Wrong by Martin Packard.



Martin a British officer in 1964 publishes his diaries on Turkish Cypriot evacuations into enclaves and some of the events which took place.



An interesting read.

rowlo



Joined: 12/10/2008
Posts: 4796

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 21:33

im not getting involved with you pikey , only suggesting a book , if he reads it , he can have his own opinion ? the author has a british passport by the way ?

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 21:42

Indeed rowlo, Turkan Aziz the author who recounts her life in the book the death of friendship was also awarded an MBE in the 50's for her services to Nursing in Cyprus under British rule in the 50's. She rose to become the Cheif Matron of Cyprus in this period, the highest post a Nurse in Cyprus could achieve in those times and was respected throughout the Island.

malsancak


Joined: 23/08/2009
Posts: 2874

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 21:59

David Carter's new book, Aphrodite's Killers is well worth reading - http://www.northcyprusfreepress.com/2011/04/06/aphrodite’s-killer-by-david-carter/

gooligan


Joined: 30/01/2007
Posts: 1591

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 22:13

AndyR,why on earth would you want the thread closed when so many others have something to offer,if a certain moderator was online when you made the request it would have been closed..unfortunately.

However,another good book is called Journey into Cyprus by Colin Thubron who travelled all through Cyprus in 1972 with just a rucksack,excellent read.

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 22:36

Indeed a very good book gooligan, well worth a read if you interested in the history of Cyprus' troubles or not. Dam I am now going to have spend the next hour finding my favourite passage in the book again.

gooligan


Joined: 30/01/2007
Posts: 1591

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 22:44

Lol,mine was when he got to Lefkoniko (Getcitkale) which was famed for it's massive cauliflowers and he asked a liitle old Greek Cypriot where he could find them,he replied "The Turks killed them" no said the author,cauliflowers are vegetables.Oh said the old man,"The Turks ate them"

Brainwashed even then. )

AndyR



Joined: 23/04/2009
Posts: 317

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 22:58

Gooligan, there have been 11 posts since I suggested that the mods close the thread. In those 11 posts only 2 books not mentioned previously were suggested.

I was very concious when I started this thread that it had the potential for 'heated' discussion and did not want to start that, I simply wanted personal recommendations. Dare I suggest that discussions (as opposed to recommendations) on the merits or not of any particular book and it's author should be in a different thread.

I've used this forum for a couple of years now and the one thing that I struggle with is threads that veer off course and dissolve into bitter arguments and insults. I'm not saying that's what's happening here, I just wanted to avoid it!

Mods, please DO feel free to close this thread now.

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 22:59

lol that was the bit I was looking for myself Just found it (page 177,178 in my edition)



"Later I stopped an old woman. 'Cauliflowers....' she said suspciously . ' There aren't any. The Turks killed them.'

'But they aren't people....'

She said quickly:'They were pulled down. Demolished.'

'They're vegetables,' I said firmly.

She wiped a dirty sleeve over her mouth as if to speak better, then answered with finality: ' The Turks ate them.'



Politics aside what is so endearing about Colin Thubron's book is the gentle non judgmental humanity he brings to his accounts, of ordianary people living in distressing times. Well worth a read.

gooligan


Joined: 30/01/2007
Posts: 1591

Message Posted:
30/04/2011 23:16

That's the one Erol,it's been a few years since I read it,going to have to read it again.



AndyR,threads only turn heated if you let them,people like 'zoots' try to inflame them but just ignore him and let the thread evolve,that way everyone benefits,even the GC sympathizers (even though they wont admit it ) )

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
01/05/2011 17:36

This thread is now closed. Reason: Thread was addressed and no need for further posts.