The National Book Prize and Terramaxka Prize 2020 – The shortlist

  1. Kunsill Nazzjonali Tal-Ktieb
  2. National Book Prize
  3. The National Book Prize and Terramaxka Prize 2020 – The shortlist




Posted on July 20, 2020

The National Book Council is hereby announcing the shortlist of books, published in 2019, contending for the 2020 National Book Prize.

The National Book Prize and Terramaxka Prize shortlist is selected by an independent adjudication board and serves as guide to standout books published in Malta during the previous year. Shortlisted titles can be purchased from all bookstores, publishers’ online shop and at the upcoming Malta Book Festival 2020 (11–15 November) at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta.

The shortlist for the National Book Prize and Terramaxka Prize 2020 includes 68 shortlisted titles out of a total of 182 longlisted works; 44 books have been shortlisted in the nine categories for publications for adults, and 24 books for the Terramaxka Prize. As of this year’s edition, poetry publications are being considered for prizes in two distinct categories, Poetry in English and Poetry in Maltese, corresponding to the language in which the collections are written.

The categories for General Research, and Biographic and Historiographic Research feature the greatest number of shortlisted works, with eleven titles in each category covering a wide range of Melitensia subjects. The category for Original Works for adolescents of 13-16 years within the Terramaxka Prize is the only one with no shortlisted titles.

The adjudication process was launched in May with the publication of the 2020 National Book Prize longlist. On 16 July the Adjudication Board presented the shortlist, including a statement of justification for each entry that did not make the shortlist. Authors and publishers interested in accessing the judges’ statement should contact the National Book Council prize administrators.

The Adjudication Board will be selecting the winners in each category of the National Book Prize and the Terramaxka Prize for children’s literature ahead of the Terramaxka Prize winners announcement on Tuesday 10 November during the official opening of the Malta Book Festival 2020. The winners of the National Book Prize 2020 will be announced at an award-giving ceremony later in December.

For further updates concerning the National Book Prize and Terramaxka Prize 2020 follow the National Book Council Facebook page and website at https://ktieb.org.mt/

National Book Prize 2020 shortlist: books published in 2019

Novels in Maltese and English

Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of bookAwtur/Editur // Author/EditorPubblikatur // Publisher
Echoes - Distant Voices: Distant LivesLou DrofenikHorizons
Papa AħmedJoe PaceMerlin Publishers
Il-Wiċċ l-IeħorĠorġ PeressoHorizons
O.B.E.Rita SalibaKlabb Kotba Maltin

 

Short stories in Maltese and English

Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of bookAwtur/Editur // Author/EditorPubblikatur // Publisher
Għall-Glorja tal-Patrija!: Kapriċċi PatrijottiċiAleks FarrugiaSKS Publishers
L-Aqwa ŻmienImmanuel MifsudKlabb Kotba Maltin
Bejn BejnejnWalid NabhanKlabb Kotba Maltin
Ħal Maqtugħ u Kitbiet OħraJohn Spiteri GingellBDL Publishing
Mill-Bieb 'il ĠewwaLoranne VellaEde Books

 

Poetry in Maltese

Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of bookAwtur/Editur // Author/EditorPubblikatur // Publisher
TluqJohn AquilinaEdizzjoni Skarta
Fuq Kaxxa tal-Birra Rasha 'l IsfelMario CardonaHorizons
Ħlief Memorji u DellijietAndrew Debono CauchiKlabb Kotba Maltin
Bejn Baħar u BaħarElizabeth GrechMerlin Publishers
Madwar Sagħtejn u Nofs 'il Bogħod mill-ĠennaImmanuel MifsudKlabb Kotba Maltin

 

Poetry in English

Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of bookAwtur/Editur // Author/EditorPubblikatur // Publisher
Lethe: A Rhapsody of Life RememberedLouise VellaLouise Vella

 

Drama in Maltese and English

Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of bookAwtur/Editur // Author/EditorPubblikatur // Publisher
L-Ispettur Bonnici: It-TriloġijaMario Philip AzzopardiKlabb Kotba Maltin
Għaliex Commedia? Għaliex Malta? Kollezzjoni t'Erba' Fares tal-Commedia dell'ArteNarcy Calamatta, Iggy Fenech (ed.)Narcy Calamatta
Żewġ Drammi: Appuntamenti/Repubblika ImmakulataSimone SpiteriSimone Spiteri

 

Literary Non-fiction in Maltese and English

Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of bookAwtur/Editur // Author/EditorPubblikatur // Publisher
Murder on the Malta Express: Who Killed Daphne Caruana Galizia?Carlo Bonini, Manuel Delia, John SweeneyMidsea Books Ltd.
TessieGiola Cassar, Glen CallejaAngela 'Giola' Cassar
Fittxu l-Ewwel is-SaltnaAndrew GaleaĊAK - Religjon u Ħajja

 

Translation

Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of bookTraduttur/Editur // Translator/EditorPubblikatur // Publisher
Mix-Xaqliba ta' Dar Swann: Imħabba ta' SwannPaul Zahra (trans.)Paul Zahra

 

General Research

Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of bookAwtur/Editur // Author/EditorPubblikatur // Publisher
Maltese Lace: History and Mystery: Four Centuries of Bizzilla Consiglia AzzopardiKite Group
Iċ-Ċimiterju ta' Santa Marija Addolorata: Storja, Arti, PersonalitajietEman BonniciHeritage Malta Publishing
Navigating the Maltese Mediascape Joe Borg, Mary Anne LauriKite Group
Dizzjunarju ta' Termini Nawtiċi u Tagħrif Ieħor Marittimu LokaliJoseph CaruanaBDL Publishing
The Joannes Gennadius Maltese Treasure Trove in Athens Arnold CassolaMalta University Press
A Passage to Malta: The Health and Wellbeing of Foreign Children in Malta Carmel Cefai, Moemi Keresztes, Natalie Galea Rachel SpiteriCommissioner for Children, Malta
Salt Pans in Malta Pauline DingliSKS Publishers
The Examined Life: Writings in Honour of Guido Lanfranco Mark-Anthony Falzon (ed.)Midsea Books Ltd.
Maltese Archives... My ChoiceCharles J. FarrugiaMiller Distributors Ltd.
Quest for the Maltese Żaqq: A Lost Piping Tradition Karl PartridgeMidsea Books Ltd., National Archives of Malta
Examining an Examination Doreen SpiteriMerlin Publishers

 

Biographical and Historiographic Research

Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of bookAwtur/Editur // Author/EditorPubblikatur // Publisher
Il-Kanonku Fortunato Panzavecchia 1797-1850: Raġel ta' Kultura u Qaddej tal-Patrija David Agius-MuscatHorizons
Lord Strickland: Plots and Intrigue in Colonial Malta Victor AquilinaKite Group
Fuq il-Passi ta' VassalliJoseph P. BorgKlabb Kotba Maltin, L-Akkademja tal-Malti
Philip Calleja: Għex għall-Bniedem Maqlugħ minn Għeruqu Charles ButtigiegKlabb Kotba Maltin
Pioneers of Modern Art in Malta Vol. 2Joseph Paul CassarHeritage Malta Publishing
Buttons Parade: Military and Civilian Uniform Buttons in Malta Denis Darmanin, George CassarKite Group
Ir-Redentur: History, Art and Cult of the Miraculous Effigy of Christ the Redeemer at Senglea, Malta Jonathan Farrugia (ed.)Midsea Books, Senglea Collegiate Chapter
Knights at Sea: The Caravan Diaries Thomas FrellerMidsea Books Ltd.
The Sette Giugno in Maltese History 1919-2019 Henry FrendoMidsea Books Ltd.
The Unreality of Realism: An Insular Perspective on the Development of Modern Art Giuseppe Schembri-BonaciHorizons
Metal and Silence: The Quest for Daringness and Authenticity in the Arts Giuseppe Schembri-BonaciHorizons

 

Terramaxka Prize 2020: books published in 2019

Original works: books for children (ages 0-7)

Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of bookAwtur/Editur // Author/EditorPubblikatur // Publisher
Tikka Poeżija għall-1 u t-2 sena Clare AzzopardiMerlin Publishers
Il-Lukanda ta' Martina Antoinette BorgMerlin Publishers
Mikelin Sandra Hili VassalloMerlin Publishers

 

Original works: books for children (ages 8-12)

Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of bookAwtur/Editur // Author/EditorPubblikatur // Publisher
Arlekkin Isfar Roberta BajadaMerlin Publishers
Nicky Farrugia: Ir-Raġel tal-Ħadid (Tikka Qari L13) Antoinette BorgMerlin Publishers
Id-Dar ta' Faċċata Carmel BorgMerlin Publishers
Irvin Vella Investigatur Virtwali (4): Il-Każ Stella Maris John A. BonelloMerlin Publishers
L-Istorja ta' Seb it-Tieni (u ta' Seb l-Ewwel ukoll) (Tikka Qari L12) Leanne EllulMerlin Publishers
Noè u l-Iskojjattlu Bla Kwiet Leanne Ellul, Stephanie BugejaMerlin Publishers
Qabża f'Dinja Oħra mill-Klassi ta' Miss Ambrożja Pulis Kiftaranipenġini Audrey FriggieriMerlin Publishers
In-Nanna Se u l-Falkun taż-Żewġt IrjusKenneth GauciBDL Publishing
In-Nanna Se u Trullu TrulluKenneth GauciBDL Publishing

 

Original works: books for adolescents (ages 13-16)

There are no shortlisted titles in this category.

 

Books translated into Maltese (ages 0-7)

Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of bookTraduttur/Editur // Translator/EditorPubblikatur // Publisher
Ottu Ma Jridx JikberClare Azzopardi (trans.)Merlin Publishers
Busy Skola Mimlija TħabrikJoanne Micallef, Toni Aquilina (trans.)Faraxa Publishing
Busy Trakter Ħabrieki Joanne Micallef, Toni Aquilina (trans.)Faraxa Publishing
Busy Żu Mimli Tħabrik Joanne Micallef, Toni Aquilina (trans.)Faraxa Publishing

 

Books translated into Maltese (ages 8-12)

Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of bookTraduttur/Editur // Translator/EditorPubblikatur // Publisher
Iċ-Ċkejken Prinċep Clare Azzopardi (trans.)Merlin Publishers
Meta Mmur għand Sieħbi Carlos Clare Azzopardi (trans.)Merlin Publishers
Vjola Ddur id-DinjaBrian Buhagiar (trans.)Merlin Publishers
Sherlock, Lupin u Jien 1: Is-Sinjura s-SewdaDwayne Ellul (trans.)Merlin Publishers
Sherlock, Lupin u Jien 2: L-Aħħar Att fit-Teatru tal-Opra Dwayne Ellul (trans.)Merlin Publishers
L-Ispettaklu Stupend Żanżan KelmaLeanne Ellul, Clare Azzopardi (trans.)Merlin Publishers
Milied Imħawwad Gorg Mallia (trans.)Merlin Publishers

 

Books translated into Maltese (ages 13-16)

Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of bookTraduttur/Editur // Translator/EditorPubblikatur // Publisher
Żero John A. Bonello (trans.)Merlin Publishers

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