Clare Azzopardi and Maria Grech Ganado at Librebook-Bruxelles

On 18th March, at Librebook-Bruxelles, a literary cafe in Brussels, two well-known and prize-winning authors will take part in an event set up by the National Book Council on occasion of Malta’s EU presidency. The event starts at 14:00 hours with Clare Azzopardi, who will be reading excerpts from her work Il-Qtates ta’ max-Xatt (2016, Merlin Publishers), Mingu (2015, Merlin Publishers), which won the Terramaxka Prize for original children’s literature (ages 0-7) and Ġużeppina (2011, Merlin Publishers). Adult members of the audience will be treated to excerpts from Kulhadd halla isem warajh (2014, Merlin Publishers), a collection of stories whose common thread lies in the powerful and inspiring personalities of the female protagonists of the stories.

After Clare, Maria Grech Ganado will take the stage to read a number of her poems in English and Maltese. Maria is well-known both as a poet and as a writer and intellectual, who has made an enormous contribution to the Maltese literary scene. This contrbution won her official recognition twice – once in 2000, when she was the recipient of MQR – Medalja għall-Qadi tar-Repubblika (Medal for Service to the Republic), and again in 2016 when she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. Her poetry has not only recieved accolades from critics but is also much loved by  the reading public. Poems such as Jum San Valentin, Ix-Xwejħa u s-Suldat. Temminx fiha and Għajrek are familiar to every Maltese who loves and reads poetry. There is no doubt that anyone visiting Librebook Bruxelles on 18th March will be privileged to hear one of the most original poetic voices our country has to offer.