British Cyprus of the Mid-20th Century through the Eyes of a Turkish Girl

The aim of the article is to present the main elements of the world in which the future writer Özden Selenge grew up and to find and explore the value of childhood memories. Selenge (born 1946) is a Turkish-Cypriot writer and fine artist. Her recollections, entitled Sahiden [Really], cover her childhood and high school years, from the late 1940s to the early 1960s. The author’s early childhood was spent during a period of peaceful coexistence between Greeks and Turks in Cyprus. It is only halfway through the book that the first mention of misunderstandings between Greeks and Turks appears, concerning the second half of the 1950s. In Selenge’s memoirs, there are numerous descriptions of daily hardship, small and great joys, and details about living and learning conditions, clothing, food, activities, and games. Greek neighbors also appear, always warmly remembered. Among other nationalities, Armenian traders and wandering gypsies are mentioned. Selenge’s memoirs, often colored by witty humor and self-irony, are not only an engaging read, but also help reconstruct perceptions of “Britishness” in Cyprus, although the author avoids direct references. It can certainly be said that childhood memories can provide a valuable addition to historical knowledge

Armenian · Girl · Greeks · Turkish · Balkans: History, Politics, Society · Cyprus History, Politics, Society · Polish-Jewish Holocaust Memory Studies