Lost Edens

Reading Lost Edens before setting foot on the island for the first time in 2004, not anticipating that after seven years, mirroring the length of the writer’s stay I would still be living in Cyprus and learning about its culture, past and present, would have made a fine introduction to a life I would only learn to appreciate years after.  Mr. Harry Mavromatis’s collection of essays is  the book of my childhood nostalgia, written in another language and of a different and distinct space, but sharing the same heartfelt stories about a carefree life at the countryside where each tree is known, nurtured and cherished like a true member of the family.

But  Lost Edens  is more than just memoirs of an idyllic Cypriot life in the beautiful Kyrenia of the 50ties. Political essays about British occupation and the Turkish invasion of the north side abound  towards the fin of the collection. Their mood is in stark contrast with one depicted in the essays on the peaceful life and the harmony of the period preceding the violent events, and while an informative lecture for a foreigner, they are possibly better suited for a local audience.

I could not finish this brief note on  Lost Edens without mentioning the cover design. Emanating of loss and of solitude, preparing the reader for what awaits him.

One can enjoy a book excerpt and author interview on the publisher website, Armida Publishing here ,  here or here.