‘Every generation has to live and deal with what came before.’ : Cypriot author on shared guilt

Events & Activities 1974booksliteratureTop Newswar ‘Every generation has to live and deal with what came before.’ : Cypriot author on shared guilt Processed 7bd9828f 51dd 430f Be0e 1cffd679f2dd Relevant News ‘Every generation has to live and deal with what came before.’ : Cypriot author on shared guilt 18 August 2026 Cypriots keep hospitality venues busy as tourist visits drop by up to 20% 18 August 2026 Rain, thunderstorms and possible hail forecast on Tuesday 18 August 2026 Sophia Neophitou 18 August 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Pavlos Pamborides’ novella And a Wake-up explores the events surrounding 1974 and the lives of those involved both before and after the invasion. The book, only 74 pages, dives deeper into the experience of generational guilt found among Cypriots. Pamborides’ protagonist ‘Nicholas’, a young soldier who lives in the aftermath of 1974 in Cyprus, must keep guard every day; readers are introduced shortly to ‘the other,’ a voice in Nicholas’ head that reveals hidden truths. Frightened, Nicholas flees his post, hoping to escape the voice, exploring much of Cyprus while ‘the other’ continues to haunt him. The author was inspired to write the novella after considering his own place in the aftermath of 1974, he told en.philenews, adding that history has an impact on everybody’s lives, and that every generation must deal with what came before them. ‘Everyone of my generation has at some point thought “Wait a second! I had nothing to do with all this! I made no decisions impacting the situation. Yet, here I am, having to live with the aftermath.”‘ Pamborides noted to en.philenews that he believes being in churches can allow a person to feel connected to the past, due to the buildings still housing the same events they did decades, or even centuaries, ago. ‘Generation after generation have been gathering in the same building witnessing the same sequence of events, listening to the same hymnography and so on.‘ He added that the urban environment of Nicosia also helps him feel connected to the past, mentioning that parking a car in what was one the moat of a renaissance fortification project and noticing old pre-war election posters when in Old Nicosia ‘reminds us that the past is not gone, and not irrelevant to the present and future.’ The locations Nicholas visits in the novella have been experiences by the author himself, and are ‘in a way,’ part of his identity, Pamborides told en.philenews. He explained that ‘the other’ was inspired by the experience of his friend from Yugoslavia,who showed similar symptoms after the ‘traumatic experience of war’ in his homeland. The book, translated to English by Despina Pirketti, was written in Cypriot dialect originally. The author told en.philenews that the decision to write in his native dialect was innate ‘Cypriotness,’ noting that a story usually chooses the correct medium they wish to be told in. Pamborides added that he has been very grateful finding out that the novella has touched Cypriot readers, especially those from his own generation who can relate to the book, and is curious to see if it can continue to evoke emotional responses from diverse backgrounds now that it has been translated to English. Throughout And a Wake-up, women’s role in 1974, and consequently, the treatment of them by men, was touched on delicately. Pamborides believes that the invasion impacted the treatment of women in two ways. He stated that suffering after the war due to abuse received during the invasion, along with the suffering and grief that came with losing children and husbands shaped the modern collective consciousness and sensitivity of one’s societal role in Cyprus today. He added that post-invasion, Cyprus’ society rapidly modernised, with thousands of refugee women having to enter the workforce. Pamborides told en.philenews that the references to religion throughout the novella were tied to the fact that it seems to be ‘inextricable from our identity,’ and even when taking religious experience out of the equation, the church carries a large part of Cypriot cultural identity. In regards to the corruption touched on in And a Wake-up, Pamborides stated that protagonists were just men and women of the time, and ‘so are we.’ He noted that some individuals were heroic, others corrupt, and some managed to be both. ‘As much as we can now judge them for the division, our children may one day judge us for failing at healing and reuniting our country.’ Pamborides noted that shared trauma and guilt have become a part of Cypriot culture, but is unsure whether this development is for better of worse. He added that though the events of 1974 brought Cypriots together and allowed the island to rebuild ‘a better democracy and a more progressive society,’ it also created generations of Cypriots with a ‘victimhood mindset’ that forces a pessimistic outlook on life and politics. The author told en.philenews that he hopes readers will leave the novella with a more compassionate, clear-eyed, and honest view of Cyprus’ past and present, advising any aspiring authors to always trust their voice ‘even if it pronounces double consonants and tells them things in back-to-front syntax.’ Find And a Wake-up here. Read more: “And a Wake-up”: an exploration of generational Cypriot guilt Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Cypriots keep hospitality venues busy as tourist visits drop by up to 20% Rain, thunderstorms and possible hail forecast on Tuesday Heavy rain floods roads in Nicosia and Larnaca From my notebook: I know I will never walk through that door again Republic of Cyprus: An anniversary and a lament Cardiac surgeons in the morning, economists at noon, football coaches by night Motorists warned as heavy rain hits Nicosia-Limassol highway Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.