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Bitter Lemons of Cyprus cover art

Bitter Lemons of Cyprus

By: Lawrence Durrell
Narrated by: Andrew Sachs
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Summary

Lawrence Durrell's evocative memoir of living in Cyprus, just before the Greek/Turkish partition. This is a touching and atmospheric account of a place, now changed, where the two races lived side by side.
©1994 CSA Telltapes Ltd. (P)1994 CSA Telltapes Ltd.
  • Abridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic reviews

"Excellent Reader Andrew Sachs provides an assured account...The hostpitality of the local people, the quirky pace of life, and the beauty of the setting all come vividly to life." ( The Scotsman)

What listeners say about Bitter Lemons of Cyprus

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Abridged and then some

Having recently visited North Cyprus, I was very keen to better understand better the complex historical context behind th 1974 Turkish invasion. A number of locals recomended this book, and as an avid audiobook listener, was pleased to find it on Audible. I noticed it was abridged, but really felt there would still be sufficient content to get at least something out of it. I was so disappointed when the narrative reached its premature end just as the history was starting to unfurl. There was the context behind Mr Durrel's relocation to Cyprus, and hardly anything else. It is really a fairly pointless offering, when the unabridged version is not available on Audible.

For balance, I will say that what little was in there was told entertainly and fluently by the author, with the different characters, although clearly exaggerated for literary effect, being portraited intelligently and sensitively. Also, Andrew Sachs, as narrator, was very much a safe pair of hands, and lent Mr Durrel just the right voice . . . .

. . . . but, please! This version was very, very severley abridged.

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21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Average

Lacked detail, could have been so much better and spent more time on the actual story rather than the characters,

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Exquisitely beautiful storytelling.

A masterclass in the art of storytelling and beautifully voiced giving yet further texture to the book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Vivid, affectionate and poignant

Lawrence Durrell writes with such vividness I could clearly imagine the people and places he describes. His affection for the Cypriots and the beautiful descriptions of the countryside, towns and villages makes the tragedy of the story all the more poignant. Highly recommended.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Once upon a time in Cyprus…

A nice story and evidence of Turks and Greeks living amongst each other in harmony before Greece’s agenda and Turkey’s intervention to protect its people.

Good listen overall can do with being a bit louder on sound.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • AC
  • 02-09-21

Volume far too quiet

Story good, Andrew Sachs good, would be great but I couldn't hear the blimmin thing

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

OK,

lacking detail
not really worth a credit
feel short changed with account and story .

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

A moving personal account of an approaching cataclysmic change in the place that I consider to be the most wonderful place on this earth.

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