The National Book Council is hereby announcing the shortlist of books, published in 2018, contending for the 2019 National Book Prize.
The adjudication process launched in April with the publication of the longlist. On 15 July, the Adjudication Board presented the shortlist at the NBC offices, including a statement of justification for each entry that did not make the shortlist. Authors and publishers interested in reading the judges’ statement are invited to get in touch with the NBC.
Out of a total of 147 longlisted works, 55 have made the shortlist – 34 books in the adult categories, and 21 for the Terramaxka Prize.
Works shortlisted under biographical and historiographical research are almost equally distributed between the two modes. The Terramaxka category for original works for children up to 7 years was again the one with the most shortlisted titles.
The Adjudication Board will now be selecting the winners of the Book Prize in each separate category in both adult literature (National Book Prize) and children’s literature (Terramaxka Prize).
The winners of the Terramaxka Prize will be announced on Tuesday 5 November at the official opening of the Malta Book Festival 2019. The winners of the National Book Prize will be announced at an award-giving ceremony that will be held at Auberge de Castille later this year.
National Book Prize 2019
Novels in Maltese and English
| Titlu tal-ktieb // Book title | Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor | Pubblikatur // Publisher | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castillo | Clare Azzopardi | Merlin Publishers Ltd. | ||
| The Reluctant Healer | Lou Drofenik | Horizons | ||
| Kulħadd Barra Fajża | John P. Portelli | Horizons |
Short stories in Maltese and English
| Titlu tal-ktieb // Book title | Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor | Pubblikatur // Publisher | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 365 | Trevor Żahra | Merlin Publishers Ltd. | ||
| Fuq Widnejn Torox: U Stejjer Żbukkati Oħra | Rita Saliba | Klabb Kotba Maltin | ||
| Il-Fiera tal-Fuħħar: U Stejjer Oħra | Joe Friggieri | Kite Group | ||
| Ħjut | Rita Saliba | Horizons | ||
| Inkontri ta' Kuljum | John P. Portelli | Horizons | ||
| Minn Żmien l-Għerien | Lina Brockdorff | Horizons | ||
Poetry in Maltese and English
| Titlu tal-ktieb // Book title | Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor | Pubblikatur // Publisher | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bil-Boqxiex | Louis Briffa | Self-published | ||
| Framed | Maria Grech Ganado | Merlin Publishers Ltd. |
Drama in Maltese and English
(no entries)
Literary Non-fiction in Maltese and English
| Titlu tal-ktieb // Book title | Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor | Pubblikatur // Publisher | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chambers of Memory: Roaming the Mansions of Mnemosyne | Richard England | Kite Group | ||
| No Man's Land: People, Place & Pollution | Marie Briguglio, Steve Bonello | Kite Group |
Translation
| Titlu tal-ktieb // Book title | Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor | Pubblikatur // Publisher | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passjoni Sempliċi | Toni Aquilina | Faraxa Publishing | ||
| Antigona | Toni Aquilina | Faraxa Publishing | ||
| Il-Metamorfosi | Emmanuel Cutajar | Faraxa Publishing | ||
| Mewt Ġo Venezja | Alfred Palma | Horizons |
General Research
| Titlu tal-ktieb // Book title | Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor | Pubblikatur // Publisher | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Il-Maltin: Għemilhom, Drawwiethom, Ġrajjiethom It-Tieni Volum | Steve Borg | Klabb Kotba Maltin | ||
| The Apostolato of the Order of St John at the Cathedral of Malta | Ġwann Azzopardi | Mdina Cathedral Chapter | ||
| A History of Għarb | Patrick Formosa | Salesians of Don Bosco (Malta) | ||
| An Encyclopaedia of Artists with a Malta Connection | Antonio Espinoza Rodriguez, Albert Ganado | Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti | ||
| Goal: The Official Encyclopaedia of the Malta Football Association | Carmel Baldacchino | Horizons | ||
| Fl-Arena ta' Moħħu: Victor Fenech – Esperimenti Stilistiċi u Protesta Soċjali | Charles Briffa | Horizons |
Biographical and Historiographic Research
| Titlu tal-ktieb / Book title | Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor | Pubblikatur // Publisher | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humillima Civitas Vallettae: From Mount Xebb-er-ras to European Capital of Culture | Godwin Vella | Heritage Malta Publishing, Malta Libraries | ||
| Marco Largi ovvero Carlo Magri: Drammaturgo Maltese (1617-1693) – Vita e Opere | Mario Pace | Midsea Books Ltd. | ||
| Fortress Colony: The Final Act 1945-1964; Vol. 4 1961-1964 | Joseph M. Pirotta | Midsea Books Ltd. | ||
| Francesco Azopardi (1748-1809): Maltese Classical Composer and Theorist | Dion Buhagiar | Faraxa Publishing | ||
| The Official Colours of Malta: Recording Malta in WWII | Caroline Miggiani | Kite Group | ||
| Giuseppe (De)Brincat: A Gozitan Wine Merchant (1890s-1930) | Michael Refalo | Kite Group | ||
| Trevelyan and Fedden: Encounters with Malta and Gozo | Lawrence Pavia | Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti | ||
| Adeodata Pisani: A Mystic Nun in Mdina | Petra Caruana Dingli | St Peter's Monastery | ||
| Maurice Caruana Curran: Guardian of Heritage and Justice | Ann Gingell Littlejohn | BDL Publishing | ||
| The Wignacourt Psalter: A Medieval Carthusian Treasure in Malta | Martina Caruana, Burkard Wehner | BDL Publishing | ||
| Public Women: Prostitute Entrepreneurs in Valletta, 1630–1798 | Christine Muscat | BDL Publishing |
Terramaxka 2019: books published in 2018
Original works: books for children (ages 0-7)
| Titlu tal-ktieb // Book title | Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor | Pubblikatur // Publisher | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Il-Ħanut tal-Ħelu Li Mar Dawra | Clare Azzopardi | Merlin Publishers Ltd. | ||
| Ġanni Jżur Pariġi | Sherise Zammit | Merlin Publishers Ltd. | ||
| Frollu Jagħmel Ħabib Ġdid | Saviour Sam Agius | BDL Publishing | ||
| Frollu Jsiefer | Saviour Sam Agius | BDL Publishing | ||
| Frollu Jgħin fid-Dar | Saviour Sam Agius | BDL Publishing | ||
| Frollu Jsib Kartiera | Saviour Sam Agius | BDL Publishing |
Original works: books for children (ages 8-12)
| Titlu tal-ktieb // Book title | Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor | Pubblikatur // Publisher | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avventura Abbord! | Antoinette Borg | Merlin Publishers Ltd. | ||
| Mill-Istorja tal-Futbol Malti | Mark Camilleri | Merlin Publishers Ltd. | ||
| Għand Rebus Totall (Is-Sħaħar ta' Petut 1) | Clare Azzopardi | Merlin Publishers Ltd. | ||
| Irvin Vella Investigatur Virtwali: Il-Każ tal-Gżejjer tat-Teżor | John A. Bonello | Merlin Publishers Ltd. | ||
| Lorella u l-Ġenju Li ma Kienx Jaf Jaqra | Rita Saliba | BDL Publishing |
Original works: books for adolescents (ages 13-16)
| Titlu tal-ktieb // Book title | Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor | Pubblikatur // Publisher | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amina | Antoinette Borg | Merlin Publishers Ltd. |
Books translated into Maltese (ages 0-7)
| Titlu tal-ktieb // Book title | Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor | Pubblikatur // Publisher | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lupu Lupettu Jrid Isir Supereroj | Clare Azzopardi | Merlin Publishers Ltd. | ||
| L-Annimali tar-Razzett | Rachel Portelli | Merlin Publishers Ltd. | ||
| L-Annimali tas-Savana | Rachel Portelli | Merlin Publishers Ltd. | ||
| Żgorg, Ħabib mid-Dinja Oħra: Finali Spazjali | Noel Tanti | Merlin Publishers Ltd. | ||
| Żgorg, Ħabib mid-Dinja Oħra: Pilota Perkażu | Noel Tanti | Merlin Publishers Ltd. | ||
| L-Album tal-Ewwel Sena Tiegħi | Sherise Zammit | Merlin Publishers Ltd. |
Books translated into Maltese (ages 8-12)
| Titlu tal-ktieb / Book title | Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor | Pubblikatur // Publisher | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missjoni: Insalvaw il-Pjaneta l-Blu | Dwayne Ellul | Merlin Publishers Ltd. | ||
| Il-Ħbieb tal-Annimali: Il-Kelb Ifittex Lil Sidu | Mark Vella | Merlin Publishers Ltd. | ||
| Il-Ħbieb tal-Annimali: Sparixxew il-Qtates! | Mark Vella | Merlin Publishers Ltd. |
Books translated into Maltese (ages 13-16)
(no entries)
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