In this wide-ranging study, Heinz A. Richter describes the development of Cyprus from 1878 to 1949, disregarding no aspect of the changeful and painful Cypriot history.

Long a plaything of the powers before and during World War I, Cyprus finally became a British crown colony in 1923. Richter describes the bleak situation of Cyprus under British rule and deals with the successful reforms of Governor Storrs that ended in the disaster of 1931 (Oktovriana), the results of the 1931 riots, and the so-called Palmerokratia, dictatorial rule until the outbreak of World War II. Three chapters are devoted to the post-war period, showing the frustrating experiences of the Cypriots when they hoped for an improvement in their situation as a reward for their war effort. The work ends with the conceptual draft of the Constitution and the Consultative Assembly of 1948.

The study is also a summary of international research on Cyprus in Greek, English, French and German over the last five decades.