| Andartes Contributor(s): Chrysafis, Andreas C. (Author) |
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ISBN: 1904578012 ISBN-13: 9781904578017 Publisher: Evandia Publishing UK Ltd OUR PRICE: $23.10 Product Type: Paperback Published: May 2005 * Not available - Not in print at this time *Annotation: Andartes (Guerrillas) is a gripping heart-rending story of a young man's dream of freedom for his people and his country. Set in the mid 1950s, Andartes is a glimpse into the fiercely fought struggle for the independence of Cyprus. Thi |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - History | Revolutionary - History | Middle East - General |
| Dewey: 956 |
| Physical Information: 0.78" H x 5.5" W x 8.5" (0.97 lbs) 348 pages |
| Themes: - Cultural Region - Middle East |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Andartes: Set in the mid 1950s, Andartes (Guerrillas) is an absorbing glimpse into the fiercely fought EOKA struggle for the independence of Cyprus from British colonial rule: the drama all the more poignant given its basis in historical fact. It is vividly written, brutal, emotional, with a most touching story. This absorbing read follows Alexi's life from an early age of utter poverty where he befriends a Turkish Cypriot compatriot and both become inseparable. They grow into young lads and enjoy life at its fullest until one day their lives had changed forever. Alexis' pride and ideals lead him on a journey that results in his paying the ultimate price. The New York based international magazine "ODYSSEY: The World of Greece" in their September / October 2008 issue has given Andartes its own review.
THE BOOK REVIEW: by Elena Polyzos.
There are few non-academic studies written in English about the Cypriot struggle for independence from British colonial rule in the mid -1950's. As a result, the story of this fiercely fought, bitter guerrilla war has been somewhat inaccessible, with Lawrence Durrell's Bitter Lemons of Cyprus, written over fifty years ago, being the classic account of those momentous events.
Andartes is a worthy addition to the literature on the subject, a dramatic novel based on historical fact. The author convincingly examines the root of the war, the formation of EOKA the Greek Cypriot guerrilla liberation organization, (hence the title, 'Andartes', or rebels) and the internecine struggle between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Although told from a Greek Cypriot point of view, Chrysafis does attempt to provide an objective and balanced account of the Greek, Turkish, and British involvement in the struggle and mostly succeeds.
Even so, it is the British who come off worst, a case of complacent and misguided colonial rule. The scenes of torture and executions portray the brutality of their authority and reveal the author's full contempt for their actions. These scenes are particularly poignant given that they describe events which took so soon after the World War II.
Andartes is also a novel of Greek-Turkish friendship and traces the relationship between a young Greek and a Turk, and how they are shaped by the violence of those years. The author concludes that violence begets violence, and in the end, nobody remains unaffected. A satisfying emotional read with vivid and believable characters and a gripping story.
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Contributor Bio(s): Chrysafis, Andreas C.: - "A Short Biography Andreas C Chrysafis is a prolific artist, a published author and a writer of over four hundred articles and a recognized Saatchi artist. His vivid colourful paintings touch the human soul and certainly spark pleasure and marvel but also generate mind stimulation. Many of his paintings spur inquisitiveness, interpretation and are sold to collectors worldwide. He held a number of solo exhibitions and his inspiring work has been attracting attention in the art world and galleries but also the press where many of his paintings have been published in magazines and newspapers. One of his paintings "Karagiozis" now permanently hangs at the prestigious National Cyprus Art-Folk Museum in Nicosia and "N'oublie Pas Paris" in memory of the Bataclan atrocity; it's displayed at the French Embassy in Nicosia. Andreas, was born in a small village -Ayios Ambrosios - in Cyprus to Greek parents. At the age of 12 he moved to the UK where he finished his studies at Holland Park Comprehensive in London. While at school, he was accepted to enter the esteemed Royal Academy of Music in London but declined. Those experiences of tender years living in rooming houses, helped to develop his character for what he is today. An ex-Associate Member of the Chartered Society of Designers (ABID) by Royal Charter, he practiced his profession as an architectural designer for most of his life. Without a doubt he's a complex man with an inquisitive mind that always aims for excellence in everything he does. He is credited with a UK Patent; a thinker, an environmentalist and an advocate for Human Rights, Equality and Rule of Law. As a Canadian and a British citizen he lived most of his adult life in Vancouver, British Columbia and London as well as Cyprus. Married to Eva he now spends most of his time living in the UK and his studio in Cyprus painting and writing novels. A.C.C" |