Celebrating Literary Excellence: Finalists for the 2023 National Book Prize and Terramaxka Prize announced

  1. Kunsill Nazzjonali Tal-Ktieb
  2. National Book Prize
  3. Celebrating Literary Excellence: Finalists for the 2023 National Book Prize and Terramaxka Prize announced




Posted on June 13, 2023

The National Book Council is announcing the shortlist for the 2023 National Book Prize and Terramaxka Prize, for books published in 2022. This is the 46th edition of the National Book Prize, the highest literary prize assigned to authors, editors, translators, publishers and illustrators of books published in Malta.

The 62 finalists making the 2023 National Book Prize shortlist have been unanimously selected by an independent panel of adjudicators according to a set of established criteria; 36 books have been shortlisted across the eight National Book Prize categories, and 26 books for children and young adults have been shortlisted in the six Terramaxka Prize categories. The titles were published by 13 different publishers and authored by 54 different authors and translators. Ten different illustrators contributed with their illustrations in books shortlisted in the Terramaxka Prize categories.

The categories of the National Book Prize for adults are Novels, Short Stories, Poetry, Drama, Literary Non-Fiction, Translation, General Research, and Biographical and Historiographic Research. The categories in the Terramaxka Prize are Original Works for Children ages 0–7, 8–12 and Young Adult Literature, books in Translation for Children ages 0–7 and 8–12, and Young Adult Literature in Translation.

Of this year’s shortlist, adjudicators praised the extremely high level of the publications across all categories. The eclectic list presents books by first-time finalists and established voices, including 15 writers and 4 translators who have previously received the National Book Prize; this year’s shortlist features new works by Loranne Vella, Paul P. Borg, Alfred Sant, Gioele Galea and Clare Azzopardi.

The adjudication process for the 2023 National Book Prize was launched in March 2023 with the publication of the longlist. By 7 March 2023, publishers and authors had submitted a total of 161 longlisted and eligible books to be considered for the current edition of the National Book Prize. The winners in each category of the National Book Prize and the Terramaxka Prize will be announced during an award-giving ceremony on 24 November 2023.

All of the National Book Prize shortlisted books are available in local bookstores and online shops, and will be available at the upcoming 2023 Malta Book Festival (18–22 October) to be held at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC), Ta’ Qali.

For further news about the 2023 National Book Prize and all other National Book Council initiatives, follow us on Facebook or visit ktieb.org.mt.

The 2023 National Book Prize Shortlist

Novels

Titlu tal-ktieb / Book titleAwtur / AuthorPubblikatur / Publisher
Belgħa TePaul P. BorgHorizons
Ir-Rumanz tal-Fieres SafranAlfred SantQuinque
Marta MartaLoranne VellaEde Books
SajfRyan FalzonKotba Calleja
Sekonda bejn TnejnHelen BorgHorizons

Short Stories

Titlu tal-ktieb / Book titleAwtur / AuthorPubblikatur / Publisher
Amsterdam u Rakkonti OħraJoe PulèBDL Publishing
Id-Dubbiena u Stejjer OħraCarmel SciclunaHorizons
L-Eku tal-ĦabbataJoe CamilleriHorizons
Tbajja' tax-Xemx u Stejjer Oħra għad-DellRita SalibaKlabb Kotba Maltin

Poetry

Titlu tal-ktieb / Book titleAwtur / AuthorPubblikatur / Publisher
Bejn il-BinarjiJohn P. PortelliHorizons
ilmaGioele GaleaHorizons
Imbagħad il-QiegħMurad ShubertKlabb Kotba Maltin
Kollox Jeħel MagħnaFrancesco GrechMerlin Publishers
Max-Xatt tat-TamariskClaudia GauciKotba Calleja
Meta Tlaqt lil AdamElena CardonaKlabb Kotba Maltin
TaoCaldon MerciecaKotba Calleja

Drama

Titlu tal-ktieb / Book titleAwtur / AuthorPubblikatur / Publisher
Erba' Drammi għat-Teatru, Vol. 2Albert MarshallHorizons
Fil-Ħajja li Jmiss u Drammi Oħra tat-TriqLon KirkopMerlin Publishers
Tebut IsfarClare AzzopardiMerlin Publishers

Literary Non-Fiction

Titlu tal-ktieb / Book titleAwtur / AuthorPubblikatur / Publisher
My Life and Times: Memories and Experiences of a Maltese Civil ServantAlfred Fiorini LowellKite Group

Translation

Titlu tal-ktieb / Book titleTraduttur / TranslatorPubblikatur / Publisher
L-Analetti (ta’ Konfuċju)Salvatore Giuffrè (trad.)SKS
Mur ġibek... eżerċizzji ta' tortura u seduzzjoni (ta’ Irene Chias)Mark Vella (trad.)Horizons
Storja Medika ta' Malta (ta’ Paul Cassar)Godwin Ellul (trad.)Faraxa Publishing
Waqt (ta’ Wislawa Szymborska)Antoine Cassar (trad.)Faraxa Publishing

General Research

Titlu tal-ktieb / Book titleAwtur / AuthorPubblikatur / Publisher
Architecture • Visions on Paper • MaltaConrad ThakeKite Group
Celebrating Music, a selection of good causesHeritage MaltaHeritage Malta
In the Footsteps of Antonello da Messina: The Antonelliani between Sicily and VeniceCharlene VellaMidsea Books
The Art of Dying Well: Visual Cultures in Times of Piety and Plague Malta 1675-1814Christian AttardKite Group
The Role and Symbolism of Flowers in Maltese ArtGlorian Micallef-GrimaudFaraxa Publishing

Biographical and Historiographic Research

Titlu tal-ktieb / Book titleAwtur / AuthorPubblikatur / Publisher
Eddie: Is-Sewwa Jirbaħ ŻgurDione BorgBDL Publishing
Gustave R. Vincenti: An Architectural LegacyDavid EllulKite Group
Malta War Occurrences : The Police Logbooks 1940-1942Jeffrey SammutBDL Publishing
Society Fashion in Malta: The Portrait Photography of Leandro Preziosi 1830-1869Caroline TonnaFondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti
The Front Page on the Frontline: The Maltese Newspapers and the Second WarMartin G. DebattistaMidsea Books
Decolonising the Maltese Mind: In Search of IdentityCharles XuerebMidsea Books
Slavery, Treason and Blood: The 1749 Plot of the Slaves in MaltaWilliam ZammitHeritage Malta

2023 Terramaxka Prize Shortlist

Original Works for Children ages 0–7

Titlu tal-ktieb / Book titleAwtur / AuthorPubblikatur / Publisher
Ana u Zak Isalvaw il-PjanetaAudrey Friggieri; Vincianne Scerri (ill.)Merlin Publishers
Bejn Rima u Tbissima: Niskopru l-AnnimaliRebekah Grima; Kite Group (ill.)Kite Group
Flavia: in-nagħġa li kienet tibża'Maria Farrugia; Louiselle Sciberras (ill.)BDL Publishing
Ħabiba ĠdidaRachelle Cortis; Naomi Gatt (ill.)Faraxa Publishing
Id-Dar tal-ĦolmMoira Scicluna ZahraMerlin Publishers
Il-Bużu u ż-Żarbuna MaġikaKelly Busuttil u Rita Saliba; Rebecca Zammit (ill.)Klabb Kotba Maltin
Jien u Beppe, Beppe u JienClare Azzopardi, Beppe Caruana; Kyle Xuereb Cunningham (ill.)Merlin Publishers
Luċjan u Enzo: is-sriedak li kienu jgħiru għal xulxinMaria Farrugia; Louiselle Sciberras (ill.)BDL Publishing
Oreste: iż-żiemel li kien imkabbarMaria Farrugia; Louiselle Sciberras (ill.)BDL Publishing
Stewart: il-ħanżir li kien buliMaria Farrugia; Louiselle Sciberras (ill.)BDL Publishing
My Pet CloudEric Sameed Turner; Charis B. Chusna (ill.)Faraxa Publishing

Original Works for Children ages 8-12

Titlu tal-ktieb / Book titleAwtur / AuthorPubblikatur / Publisher
Ejja Nsajru Poeżija: Versi, Logħob bil-Kliem u Aktar...Trevor ŻahraMerlin Publishers
Il-Bebbuxu TrumbettaClaudia Aloisio; Matt Stroud (ill.)Klabb Kotba Maltin
Warda Żżur lil NannithaLouise Chircop, Naomi Gatt (ill.)Faraxa Publishing
Il-Kreatura taħt is-SoddaSimon Bartolo, José Luís Ocaña (ill.)Merlin Publishers
Irvin Vella, Investigatur Virtwali: Il-Każ tal-Ħabsi Bla ĦtijaJohn A. Bonello, Francesca Grech (ill.)Merlin Publishers
Tita Tmiss l-ArtClare Azzopardi, Glen Calleja; Naomi Gatt (ill.)Kotba Calleja

Young Adult Literature

Titlu tal-ktieb / Book titleAwtur / AuthorPubblikatur / Publisher
ĠgantiDavid AloisioHorizons

Translation for Children ages 0–7

Titlu tal-ktieb / Book titleTraduttur / TranslatorPubblikatur / Publisher
Kieku Armadillo Jmur f’Ristorant (Ellen Fischer; Laura Wood ill.)Janet MalliaBDL Publishing
Kieku Ljunfant Imur l-Iskola (Ellen Fischer; Laura Wood ill.)Janet MalliaBDL Publishing
Nitgħallem il-Ħin ma' Lupu Lupettu (Orianne Lallemand; Éléonore Thuillier ill.)Clare AzzopardiMerlin Publishers

Translation for Children ages 8-12

Titlu tal-ktieb / Book titleTraduttur / TranslatorPubblikatur / Publisher
Il-Ġurnalista: L-Istorja ta' Daphne Caruana Galizia (Gattaldo)Immanuel MifsudKlabb Kotba Maltin
Il-Ħbieb tal-Annimali: Taqsima Investigattiva: Il-Mohor Midrub (Juliette Parachini-Deny u Oliver Dupin; Ariane Delrieu ill.)Mark VellaMerlin Publishers
Il-Ħbieb tal-Annimali: Taqsima Investigattiva: Il-Panda Ċkejkna Meħlus (Juliette Parachini-Deny u Oliver Dupin; Ariane Delrieu ill.)Mark VellaMerlin Publishers
Każ Miftuħ: Segwi l-Indizji! (Àngels Navarro; Jordi Sunyer ill.)Noel TantiMerlin Publishers

Young Adult Literature in Translation

Titlu tal-ktieb / Book titleTraduttur / TranslatorPubblikatur / Publisher
Sherlock, Lupin u Jien: Il-Katidral tal-Biża’ (Irene Adler; Iacopo Bruno ill.)Dwayne EllulMerlin Publishers

Share Article