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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