Several visitors to Cyprus confirmed that this tiny island has something special that no one can truly explain.
A sort of magic energy that makes people feel at ease as soon as they step on the Cypriot ground.
It leaves people with unforgettable memories and a will to come back, again and again, to the Eastern Mediterranean island.
This inexplicable connection with Cyprus pushed many people, including myself, to move to the island.
This inexplicable connection with Cyprus is also what inspired Giuseppe Raudino to write a novel set on this beautiful island.
Giuseppe Raudino, Lecturer in Journalism and Media Theory at the Hanze University of Groningen, visited Cyprus for work-related reasons in 2013.
Being Sicilian, he felt immediately connected and captivated by the familiar vibes of Mediterranean life, merged with the atmospheres, smells, and tastes of the Middle East.
The novel born from this trip, “Stelle di un cielo diviso”, follows the steps of Cathrine while on assignment by the UN to prepare a report on the socio-cultural conditions of Cyprus, the land where she grew up.
The slow rhythms of the island, the natural beauty, the pain, political struggles, and violence of the island’s past are the background to a story that moves between past and present.
The novel, set in the summer of 2000, before the opening of the checkpoints, provides a base for interesting considerations on the geopolitical situation in Cyprus and its future. “The division of the island is a fact, and you have to start from its acceptance to continue the dialogue” it is stated.
The book is in Italian and can be purchased online here and in several independent book stores.
The author published an English script based on the novel, which you can read here.
Our tiny Cyprus managed to leave an indelible mark both on the author and the readers of this novel, which captures the island’s essence and complex history.
Thanks to Giuseppe Raudino for his novel and the valuable information he provided for this article.
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