Biography
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Imagine if your childhood haunts were sealed off like an ancient tomb…
M.J.W. Clark arrived in Cyprus as an eight-year-old in the summer of 1970 and lived there for two thrilling years. The Cold War was entrenched, hippy lifestyles were running out of steam, it was the era of the tie-dye T shirt, the Chopper bike and coke adverts ‘Teaching the World to Sing…’
In the summer of 2018, the author returned to the island to walk The Green Line, the land trapped in the United Nation’s no-man’s land that divides it. Lying under half a century of almost sacred dust it is a 1970s world begging to be explored. Crossing into Northern and Southern Cyprus several times and taking the reader far from the tourist hordes, he undertakes a trek through deserted villages, quiet trails, silent woods and dry ravines. It’s a journey back through time and a discovery of how place and time affect who we become.
Here's what readers have to say about this book....
A well written, interesting and lovely book.
A superb book Martin. Having lived in Cyprus for 14 years we were very familiar with the countryside’s barren conditions and the kindness and generosity of the local residents both sides of the Green Line. The descriptive account of the Hammam was so accurate that I even felt my bottom and back burning whilst reading it. We were more familier with the villages west of Nicosia and the book brought back very fond memories of our visits to them. Well done, a jolly good thought provoking read, John Sutton
A profoundly personal and moving account of a hiker’s journey along the Green Line of Cyprus. The author lived in Cyprus for two idyllic years as a child. Returning half a century later, he vowed to follow the UN-enforced security buffer zone from east to west, entirely on foot, crossing through checkpoints to meet the two very different - yet still entirely Cypriot – communities on each side. Along the way are tales of a brutal pummeling in a traditional Ottoman hammam, stray dogs, irresponsible drivers and descriptions of lemon ice lollies that rival anything you’d find in “a little bar in Alex”. There is enough history to add some flavour to the story, and some wonderful short memoirs of the author’s experiences in Berengaria village. The final memoir, which could easily stand alone as an essay in its own right, is deeply moving – and set this reviewer off on a misty-eyed Proustian journey of his own before he remembered to return to the book! Overall, a very enjoyable read.
I finished this book last night. It was beautifully crafted, exquisite in expressions, highly descriptive and well researched. Martin, I have known you for years, so thank you for letting me journey with you. I got to know you better.
What a beautifully written book! Having lived in Cyprus as a child (1971-74), the writer’s wonderful descriptions of life on the island in 1970-72, took me back to my own happy childhood in Limassol. The author’s mastery of prose and poetry meant that I was right beside him as he walked across this lovely island. I think this will become a modern classic! Superb.
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