Lotus Discovery

In 1951, Australian writers Charmian Clift and George Johnston left the grey post-war London behind and moved to Greece. They first settled on the small island of Kalymnos and then on Hydra, with the plan to live a simple life and focus on their writing. The result was Charmian Clift's most well-known books, Mermaid Singing and The Sinkings.

In the novel The Sinkings, the author recounts the family's move, with their young children, to Hydra, where they bought a house near a well and had to face the chaos of domestic life while becoming the center of a bohemian and informal community of artists and writers. This group included Leonard Cohen, who became their guest, and his partner, Marianne Ihlen. Clift presents an evocative image of the island's inhabitants and the rhythms of traditional life, long before backpacker and mass tourism arrived.

"They drank and wrote more than anyone, got sick and got well more than anyone, cursed and blessed more than anyone, and were by far the most solidary. They were a source of inspiration," said Leonard Cohen.

The move to Greece was a deliberate decision by Clift and Johnston to live a simpler life and focus on their writing. They first settled on the small island of Kalymnos, but later moved to the larger island of Hydra, where they bought a house near a well. This new home became the center of a bohemian and informal community of artists and writers, including the renowned poet Leonard Cohen and his partner, Marianne Ihlen.

Clift's novel The Sinkings vividly depicts the day-to-day life on the island, with its rituals, rhythms, and characters. The author paints a evocative picture of the island's inhabitants, long before the arrival of backpacker and mass tourism. The community was marked by a spirit of camaraderie, with the residents engaging in intense drinking, writing, and mutual support.

According to Cohen, this group "drank and wrote more than anyone, got sick and got well more than anyone, cursed and blessed more than anyone, and were by far the most solidary." They were a source of inspiration for the author and the wider artistic community.

The move to Greece allowed Clift and Johnston to step away from the grey and constrained post-war environment of London and immerse themselves in a simpler, more creative way of living. The island setting, with its sun-drenched landscapes and close-knit community, provided the perfect backdrop for them to focus on their writing and artistic pursuits. The Sinkings stands as a testament to this vibrant and inspiring period in Clift's life and work.

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