LUCKY IN CYPRUS is a coming-of-age story set in the Middle East during the height of the Cold War. An American teenager - son of a CIA operative - is inspired by grand events and a Greek Cypriot teacher to learn about survival and his art. He witnesses earthquakes and riots and terrorist attacks, but in the end it is his teacher's gentle lessons that keep him whole.

The Cyprus problem has defeated all attempts to resolve it for more than forty years. From 1996 onwards the UN, with strong support from the US, the UK and other EU members, mounted the most sustained of all the efforts to reach an agreement, so that a reunited Cyprus could join the EU in May 2004. Although it came closer to success than any previous attempt, this one failed too. From his unique position as the former British Special Representative for Cyprus, Lord (formerly Sir David) Hannay tells the story of these negotiations. What results is a revealing first-hand account of a profoundly complex situation, an exceptional reference point for all those interested in the region.

For the first time in my life, I was shot at as I approached the Beirut shore. I know now that if they wanted to kill me, they could have that night. This is just one of the many adventures the author has faced during his 44 years of living and working in the volatile Middle East. As the famous writer and lecturer, Helen Keller once wrote: “Life is a daring adventure, or it is nothing at all”. In the author’s own lifetime he has experienced a profuse number of adventures, and many were truly amazing life-changing episodes, in fact so many that he has decided to share them by writing his third book, The Last American in Damascus.

Coercive Geographies examines historical and contemporary forms of coercion and constraint exercised by a wide range of actors in diverse settings. It links the question of spatial confines to that of labor.

Covering both the North and the South of Cyprus with equal detail and objectivity, this guide includes features on the island's turbulent history and current politics. It provides accounts of the island's attractions, from the popular beach resorts to the remote hillside villages, and reviews of the best places to eat, drink and sleep for every budget.