Today, on 28th August 2017, the National Book Council is releasing the National Book Prize Shortlist for books published in 2016. The shortlist is drawn up by an independent adjudication board of 9 jurors. The selection process started on 25th April from 203 entries, out of which 35 have been shortlisted. This yearโ€™s shortlist for the novels category carries a record number of books written by women with 3 out of the 6 contenders being women. Excluding childrenโ€™s books, more non-fiction books have been shortlisted than fiction books marking an increasing trend of non-fiction authors.

The adjudication board will be selecting the winners of the Book Prize for each separate category in both adult literature (National Book Prize) and childrenโ€™s literature (Terramaxka Prize). The winners of the Terramaxka Prize will be announced on Tuesday 7 November at the Mediterranean Conference Centre on the first day of the Malta Book Festival 2017. The winners of the Book Prize will be announced on December 7th during a ceremony which will be held at Auberge de Castille under the patronage of the Prime Minister.

 

NATIONAL BOOK PRIZE: SHORTLIST 2017

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Novels in Maltese and English

The Confectionerโ€™s Daughter by Lou Drofenik (Horizons)

Shadows in Penumbra by Lillian Sciberras (Horizons)

Fid-dlam tal-lejl ฤงarisna by Immanuel Mifsud (Klabb Kotba Maltin)

Nex by Mark Camilleri (Merlin Publishers)

The Grasshopper by Aleks Farrugia (Merlin Publishers)

Lucy Min? by Lara Calleja (Merlin Publishers)

 

Short-Stories in Maltese and English

Western: bejn rakkonti, bejn divertimenti by Alfred Sant (SKS Publishers)

Awguri, Giovanni Bonello! by Chris Gruppetta (Editor) (Merlin Publishers)

Stejjer veri li qatt ma ฤกraw by Charles Casha (Klabb Kotba Maltin)

Mhux nies by Jean Paul Borg (Klabb Kotba Maltin)

 

 

Poetry in Maltese and English

Who looks at the sun anymore by Kenneth Wain (Horizons)

โ€œฤฆutaโ€ by Immanuel Mifsud (Klabb Kotba Maltin)

Nartiฤ‹i by Norbert Bugeja (Klabb Kotba Maltin)

 

Drama

None of the books were short listed

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Translation

Marcel Proust: โ€˜Gฤงat-tfittxija taลผ-ลผmien mitluf: Mix-xaqliba taโ€™ Dar Swann by Paul Zahra

Il-maฤงbub taโ€™ Lady Chatterley by Alfred Palma (Horizons)

 

 

Biographical and Historiographic Research

The great Maltese Composers: Historical context, lives and works by Joseph Vella Bondin (APS Bank Ltd.)

L-Iลผvilupp tal-Edukazzjoni by Joseph A. Xerri (SKS Publishers)

The Pre-Siege Maps of Malta: Second Century AD โ€“ 1674 by Albert Ganado and Joseph Schiroโ€™ (BDL)

The Fleet of the Knights of Malta: Its organisation during the eighteenth century by Joseph F. Grima (BDL)

Waking the dead: nineteenth century obituaries of amirror of Maltese Society (1815-c.1910)by Michael Refalo (BDL)

Kissing the Gallows by William Zammit (BDL)

Rememberingย  Rediffusion in Malta by Toni Sant (Midsea Books Ltd.)

Nation, Pride and Dignity by Joseph M. Pirotta (Midsea Books Ltd.)

Min qatel il-Patri? By Mark Montebello and Marlene Mifsud Chircop (Klabb Kotba Maltin)

Photography in Malta: the history & the Protagonists by Kevin Casha (APS Bank Ltd.)

Filial Churches in Malta: Qormi: a case study by Hilary Spiteri (Horizons)

Treasures of Faith by Edgar Vella (Midsea Books Ltd.)

 

 

General Research

Maltese plants in the Bible by Peter Calamatta

Vanishing Malta: Raising Consciousness on safeguarding Maltaโ€™s Legacy by Kevin Casha (APS Bank Ltd.)

The road less travelled of a Scientist and Priest: Pierre Teilhard De Chardin by Mary Anne Sultana

Rescur nirkbu l-mewฤก tal-ฤงajja (Vol.1 โ€“ 5) ย by Carmel Cefai, Paul Bartolo and Katya Galea (ฤŠentru Reลผiljena u Saฤงฤงa Soฤ‹jo Emozzjonali UOM)

Anna tal-Esseni by Emanuel J. Casingena (Horizons)

Contemporary Architecture in Malta ย by Conrad Thake (Kite Group)

A commentary on the Constitution of Malta by Tonio Borg (Kite Group)

The Maltese Village Festa: a tradiitonal yearly ritual by Patrick J. Fenech (BDL)

 

 

TERRAMAXKA PRIZE: SHORTLIST 2017

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Original Works: Books for Children (Ages 0-7)

Wherever could they be? Fejn setgฤงu qegฤงdinย  by Naomi Gatt (Horizons)

Il-qtates taโ€™ max-xattย  by Clare Azzopardi (Merlin Publishers)

Fil-kamra taโ€™ Jonas by Emanuel (Noel) Tanti (Merlin Publishers)

 

 

 

Original Works: Books for Children (Ages 8-12)

ลปiffa mqarba fโ€™ฤฆal Buffura by Rita Saliba (BDL)

Il-kaลผ tas-serqiet strambi by John A. Bonello (Merlin Publishers)

Stejjer ma jitwemmnux mill-Klassi taโ€™ Miss Ambroลผja Pulis Kiftaranipinฤกini by Audrey Friggieri (Merlin Publishers)

Arloฤกฤก u tila by Roberta Bajada (Merlin Publishers)

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Original Works: Books for Adolescents (Ages 13-16)

Fittixni by Antoinette Borgย  (Merlin Publishers)

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Translation: Books for Children (Ages 0-7)

Inฤงobbok by Leanne Ellul (Merlin Publishers)

Lupu Lupettu jลผur il-Foresta tal-ฤฆrejjef by Clare Azzopardi (Merlin Publishers)

Lupu Lupettu jinvestiga l-muลผew by Clare Azzopardi (Merlin Publishers)

 

Translation: Books for Children (Ages 8-12)

Teresa by Leanne Ellul and Clare Azzopardi (Merlin Publishers)

L-Opri tal-ฤฆniena imfissra liลผ-ลปgฤงaลผagฤง by Terence Portelli (ฤŠAK-Reliฤกjon u ฤฆajja)

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Translation: Books for Adolescents (Ages 13-16

None of the books were short listed

 


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