Shortlisted works for the 2022 National Book Prize and Terramaxka Prize announced

  1. Kunsill Nazzjonali Tal-Ktieb
  2. National Book Prize
  3. Shortlisted works for the 2022 National Book Prize and Terramaxka Prize announced




Posted on July 26, 2022

The National Book Council is announcing the shortlist for the 2022 National Book Prize and Terramaxka Prize, for books published in 2021. 

Now in its 45th edition, the National Book Prize is the highest literary prize assigned to authors, editors, translators, publishers and illustrators, and serves as guide to standout books published in Malta during the preceding year. The shortlist has been selected by an independent adjudication board appointed annually by the National Book Council according to a set of established criteria.

The 2022 shortlist includes 63 titles selected out of 199 longlisted and eligible works received by 28 March 2022; 43 books have been shortlisted across the eight National Book Prize categories, and 20 books for children and young adults have been shortlisted in the six 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.

Most shortlisted books will undoubtedly resonate with current affairs and debates, not least in the Novels category where the spectre of war in Europe hangs over titles by Lou Drofenik, Toni Sant, and Aleks Farrugia. The popularity of the short story among writers and readers of fiction is once again reflected in this year’s extensive shortlist, as is the rising number of translations of world literature into Maltese. Non-fiction is similarly well represented and consistent with trends observed over the past editions, while the categories for General Research, and Biographical and Historiographic Research feature a wide-ranging shortlist of accomplished titles covering a significant number of Melitensia subjects, urbanism, art-history and beyond. 

The adjudication process for the 2022 National Book Prize was launched in May 2022 with the publication of the longlist. The winners in each category of the National Book Prize and the Terramaxka Prize will be selected in the coming months and will be announced during an award-giving ceremony on 4 November 2022.

All of the National Book Prize shortlisted books are available in local bookstores and online shops, and will be sold at the upcoming 2022 Malta Book Festival (23–27 November) held at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC), Ta’ Qali.

For further 2022 National Book Prize news and all other National Book Council initiatives, follow us on Facebook or visit ktieb.org.mt.

The 2022 National Book Prize Shortlist

Novels

Awtur/Editur
Author/Editor		Titlu tal-ktieb
Book title		Pubblikatur
Publisher
Aleks FarrugiaCamerata!SKS Publishers
Lou DrofenikBig Oak on Little MountainHorizons
Toni SantVarjetà: L-Istorja Kważi Vera tal-Kumpanija Stage CommandosKlabb Kotba Maltin
Tyrone GrimaFrammentiMerlin Publishers

Short Stories

Awtur
Author		Titlu tal-ktieb
Book title		Pubblikatur
Publisher
Stephen LughermoĊelel bla ĦitanHorizons
Alex MizziTalb għax-XitaKlabb Kotba Maltin
Charles CashaDisgħin MinutaKlabb Kotba Maltin
Rita SalibaMinn taħt l-IlsienKlabb Kotba Maltin
Ġorġ Mallia (ed.)Il-Ħamsin : 24 Awtur, 24 Storja, in-numru 50Klabb Kotba Maltin
Keith BorgIl-Parabboli tal-ImġienenMerlin Publishers
Nadia MifsudŻifna f'Xifer IrdumMerlin Publishers
Steve BorgTad-Demm u l-LaħamKlabb Kotba Maltin

Poetry

Awtur
Author		Titlu tal-ktieb
Book title		Pubblikatur
Publisher
Nadia MifsudVarjazzjonijiet tas-SkietEde Books
Norbert BugejaInsa li Mhijiex HawnKlabb Kotba Maltin
Matthew SchembriĦassartekMatthew Schembri
Richard EnglandCainKite Group

Drama

Awtur
Author		Titlu tal-ktieb
Book title		Pubblikatur
Publisher
Vincent VellaGetting in the WayHorizons
Alfred ButtigiegL-InterrogazzjoniTeatru Malta

Literary Non-Fiction

Awtur
Author		Titlu tal-ktieb
Book title		Pubblikatur
Publisher
Alfred SantConfessions of a European Maltese: The Middle Years, 1975-1992SKS Publishers
Joseph R. GrimaMemories from the Front Line: Five Decades of Service to the Country (1965-2005)Midsea Books

Translation

Traduttur
Translator		Titlu tal-ktieb
Book title		Pubblikatur
Publisher
Alfred PalmaId-Divina Commedia (Dante Alighieri )Klabb Kotba Maltin
Alfred PalmaIn-Nisa Ferrieħa ta' Windsor (William Shakespeare)Alfred Palma
Charles FloresKwarantina (Jim Crace)Horizons
Jean Paul BorgDamasku Tiegħi (Suad Amiry)Klabb Kotba Maltin
Paul MizziIl-Patt il-ĠdidDar tal-Pubblikazzjoni Qum
Claudine BorgKunċert b'Tifkira ta' Anġlu (Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt)Faraxa Publishing
Mary Rose MifsudAnne Frank: Id-Djarju ta’ Tfajla Edizzjoni Definittiva (Anne Frank)Faraxa Publishing
Clare VassalloVespersMerlin Publishers
Francesco Pio AttardFratelli Tutti (Papa Franġisku)Reliġjon u Ħajja

General Research

Awtur
Author		Titlu tal-ktieb
Book title		Pubblikatur
Publisher
Maroma Camilleri, Mevrick Spiteri (eds.)Cities, Harbours and Artefacts: Transformations of an Early Modern Landscape. Proceedings of the Public Lecture Series 2018-2019 Urban Landscapes held at the National Library of Malta, VallettaMalta Libraries
Giuseppe Schembri BonaciJosef Kalleya and Dante: A Child's Tormented Soul in Paradise Vol. 1Horizons
Giuseppe Schembri BonaciJosef Kalleya and Dante: A Child's Tormented Soul in Paradise Vol. 2Horizons
Mark SagonaInternational Perspectives on the Decorative Arts: Nineteenth-Century MaltaMidsea Books
Conrad ThakeArt Nouveau To Modernism : Architecture in Malta 1910-1950Kite Group
Matty CremonaDinner in Malta in a Series of Vignettes 1530-1930Midsea Books
Mevrick SpiteriThe Houses of Baroque Valletta 1650-1750. Property Redevelopment from Records of the Officio delle Case: Socio-economic Reflections on Civil BuildingsMidsea Books
David CardonaRoman Architecture in MaltaHeritage Malta Publishing
Manwel Debono, Godfrey Baldacchino (eds.)Working Life and the Transformation of Malta 1960-2020Malta University Press
Andrew BorgIl-Ktieb ta' San Ġużepp : Ġabra ta' StudjiDeer Publications

Biographical and Historiographic Research

Awtur
Author		Titlu tal-ktieb
Book title		Pubblikatur
Publisher
Michael RefaloAmong Others. The Maltese in Egypt: Life, Crime and Death (1860s-1923)Kite Group
Mark MontebelloThe Tail That Wagged the Dog: The Life and Struggles of Dom Mintoff 1916-2012SKS Publications
Jessica MuscatThe Darmanin Artists: Decorative Marble Production for the British EmpireKite Group
Victor AquilinaChurchill, Malta and GibraltarKite Group

2022 Terramaxka Prize Shortlist

Original Works for Children ages 0–7

Awtur/Illustratur
Author/Illustrator		Titlu tal-ktieb
Book title		Pubblikatur
Publisher
Doris Schembri, Elaine R.C. Saliba (ill.)Inpinġi bl-Imqas ma' Henri MatisseFaraxa Publishing
Auntie Sab, Emma Galea Naudi (ill.)Ride the FeelingMerlin Publishers

Original Works for Children ages 8-12

Awtur/Illustratur
Author/Illustrator		Titlu tal-ktieb
Book title		Pubblikatur
Publisher
Audrey Friggieri, Marisa Attard (ill.)Ruby u l-Kaxxa bil-ButtuniHorizons
Claudia Aloisio, Greta Borg Carbott (ill.)Il-Pupa tax-XelterKlabb Kotba Maltin
Immanuel Mifsud, Maja Veselinović (ill.)Paramm Paramm: Ktieb għall-Bravi u l-ImqarbinKlabb Kotba Maltin
Dunstan HamiltonX'se Jagħmel Joe?Anzjanità Attiva u Kura fil-Komunita'
Maria Borg Cremona, Carmel Busuttil, Matt Stroud (ill.)Vjaġġ bil-BallunHorizons
Kenneth Gauci, Amy Sultana (ill.)In-Nanna Se u l-Brimba SultanaBDL Publishing
Clare Azzopardi, Leanne Ellul, Romont Willy (ill.)Il-Fatat KaħlaniMerlin Publishers
Leanne Ellul, Stephanie Bugeja, Alice Samuel (ill.)Mila u l-Iljun ir-RieqedMerlin Publishers

Young Adult Literature

Awtur/Illustratur
Author/Illustrator		Titlu tal-ktieb
Book title		Pubblikatur
Publisher
Jacqueline MizziNoti BluHorizons
Clare Azzopardi, Naomi Gatt (ill.)#noħlomlixidarbaServizzi Ewropej f'Malta (SEM)
John A. Bonello, Francesca Grech (ill.)Irvin Vella: Il-Każ tat-Tfajla MaħtufaMerlin Publishers

Translation for Children ages 0–7

Traduttur
Translator		Titlu tal-ktieb
Book title		Pubblikatur
Publisher
Claudia GauciKelb Jismu Wuff (Clare Smedley, Romont Willy ill.)Merlin Publishers
Clare AzzopardiMustaċċi Jivvintahom (Armelle Renoult, Mélanie Grandgirard ill.)Merlin Publishers
Clare AzzopardiAkiko: Qattus Unikornu b'Missjoni (Béatrice Ruffié, Ophélie Ortal ill.)Merlin Publishers
Clare AzzopardiKapt'n Fsied u l-Kaxxa tal-Ikel (Julien Hervieux, Luke Séguin-Magee ill.)Merlin Publishers

Translation for Children ages 8-12

Traduttur
Translator		Titlu tal-ktieb
Book title		Pubblikatur
Publisher
Noel TantiVrumm! L-Istorja tal-Karozzi (Michał Leśniewski, Maciej Szymanowicz ill.)Merlin Publishers
Clare Azzopardi, Leanne EllulAlice fl-Art tal-Għeġubijiet (Lewis Carol, Carlo Scataglini)Merlin Publishers

Young Adult Literature in Translation

Traduttur
Translator		Titlu tal-ktieb
Book title		Pubblikatur
Publisher
Dwayne Ellul (trad.)Sherlock, Lupin u Jien: Il-Misteru tal-Warda Ħamra (ta' Irene Adler, Iacopo Bruno ill.)Merlin Publishers

Share Article