By global superpower standards, what happened in Cyprus during the summer of 1974 was a mere miscalculation. It was, however, a disaster for thousands of ordinary Cypriots, both Greek and Turk. This account of those times is exceptional because it is written by an artist who is both a detached outside observer and a passionate insider who cares very much for the well-being of all Cypriots. This book does not focus on the politics of a now-divided island or apportion blame for its current state or dwell relentlessly on the suffering of its refugees. Rather it tells the stories of a few ordinary people caught up in the catastrophic events of that summer, of how they lost their homes but not their dignity and how they started to rebuild their lives with determination and courage. As such it has a universal relevance going far beyond the people of Cyprus. This short book, enriched with more than forty contemporary photographs, is a compulsive read and almost impossible to put down.