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National Book Prize and Terramaxka Prize 2023 – The Longlist

Initiatives • National Book Prize • News

3rd April, 2023

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The National Book Council is publishing the list of titles that were submitted to participate in the adjudication of the National Book Prize and Terramaxka Prize 2023, for books published in 2022. The National Book Prize is the most prestigious literary prize in Malta assigned to authors, editors, translators, publishers and illustrators for books published with a local ISBN during the preceding year.

The eight categories of the National Book Prize for adults are: Novels, Short Stories, Poetry, Drama, Literary Non-Fiction, Translation, General Research, and Biographical and Historiographic Research. The six categories in the Terramaxka Prize are: Original Works for Children ages 0–7, 8–12 and Young Adult Literature, books in Translation for Children ages 0–7 and 8–12, and Young Adult Literature in Translation.

All books have been screened for eligibility by an independent adjudication board and were vetted for inclusion in the correct categories. This year the National Book Prize has recorded a total of 161 eligible titles now forming part of its longlist: 102 titles across the eight categories of the National Book Prize for adults, and 59 titles across six categories of the Terramaxka Prize.

In the coming months, the members of the adjudication board will be reading the submissions in order to select the titles for the National Book Prize and Terramaxka shortlist, which will be released next June.

The winners of both the National Book Prize for adults and the Terramaxka Prize for children and young adults will be announced during an award-giving ceremony on 24 November 2023.

To keep abreast of all National Book Prize-related news and all other National Book Council’s initiatives, follow us on Facebook or visit ktieb.org.mt.

The full list of eligible submissions can be found underneath:

National Book Prize 2023: Books 2022

Novels

Titlu tal-ktieb Book title	Awtur Author	Pubblikatur Publisher
999 or Playing the Glass Bead Game with Pythagoras	Nataša Pantović	Artof4Elements
Anġli u Xjaten	Ben Agius	Horizons
Belgħa Te	Paul P. Borg	Horizons
Daqqa ta' Ħarta	Sharon Calleja	BDL Publishing
Dun Ġużepp	Gordon Pace	Klabb Kotba Maltin
Il-Barbaġann fix-Xewkija	Ronald Bugeja	BDL Publishing
Il-Ħajja Sempliċi ta' Toni s-Sagristan	Thomas J. Dimech	Faraxa Publishing
Il-Ħarba	Alfred Massa	Horizons
Ir-Re Borg	Aleks Farrugia	SKS Publishers
Ir-Rumanz tal-Fieres Safran	Alfred Sant	Quinque
Marta Marta	Loranne Vella	Ede Books
Mibdul Issue 1	Teodor Reljić	Merlin Publishers
Mibdul Issue 2	Teodor Reljić	Merlin Publishers
Mibdul Issue 3	Teodor Reljić	Merlin Publishers
Mibdul Issue 4	Teodor Reljić	Merlin Publishers
Mibdul Issue 5	Teodor Reljić	Merlin Publishers
Mibdul Issue 6	Teodor Reljić	Merlin Publishers
Murder in St Jude's	Robert Busuttil	Horizons
My Residence at Pine Forest Lodge, Some Reflections	Victor Mallia-Milanes	Kite Group
Natal Felice u Ġnien il-Mistrieħ	Brian Bonnici	Horizons
Richie the Caseworker	Christopher Febles	Faraxa Publishing
Sajf	Ryan Falzon	Kotba Calleja
Sarangu - The Sack Man	Fabrizio Ellul	Fabrizio Ellul (awtoppubblikat / self-published)
Sekonda bejn Tnejn	Helen Borg	Horizons
Sensei	Edgar Formosa	Horizons
September Rain	Robert Busuttil	Horizons
The Crooked Road Back	Martin R Jones	Horizons
Tnax-il Sena Wara	Martin Grech	BDL Publishing
Ulied il-Fenton	Monica Gatt	BDL Publishing

Short Stories

Titlu tal-ktieb Book title	Awtur Author	Pubblikatur Publisher
Amsterdam u Rakkonti Oħra	Joe Pulè	BDL Publishing
Id-Dubbiena u Stejjer Oħra	Carmel Scicluna	Horizons
Il-Qaħba tar-Raħal u Stejjer Oħra	Joseph A. Cachia	BDL Publishing
Kaxxa tal-Injam u Rakkonti Oħra	Joseph Falzon	Klabb Kotba Maltin
Ktieb tas-Sħaħar	Rowena Grech	Klabb Kotba Maltin
L-Eku tal-Ħabbata	Joe Camilleri	Horizons
Tbajja' tax-Xemx u Stejjer Oħra għad-Dell	Rita Saliba	Klabb Kotba Maltin

Poetry

Titlu tal-ktieb Book title	Awtur Author	Pubblikatur Publisher
Allat tal-Landa	Mario Cardona	Horizons
Bejn il-Binarji	John P. Portelli	Horizons
Between Coincidence and Chance: Selected Poems	Richard England	Kite Group
Bjuda	Leanne Ellul	Aġenzija Żgħażagħ
Codex Melitensis	Alexander Vella Gregory	Klabb Kotba Maltin
Ħajku ta' Hi u Hu: L-Ambigwità Sagra u Skandaluża tal-Imħabba	Joseph W. Psaila	Joseph W. Psaila (awtoppubblikat / self-published)
Ilma	Gioele Galea	Horizons
Imbagħad il-Qiegħ	Murad Shubert	Klabb Kotba Maltin
Kollox Jeħel Magħna	Francesco Grech	Merlin Publishers
L-Għanja tat-Tifkira Vol. 2	Joe M. Attard	Joe M. Attard (awtoppubblikat / self-published)
Max-Xatt tat-Tamarisk	Claudia Gauci	Kotba Calleja
Meta Tlaqt lil Adam	Elena Cardona	Klabb Kotba Maltin
Minn Wara l-Ħġieġ	Rita Saliba	Klabb Kotba Maltin
Mumenti Klandestini: poeżiji 2018-2021	Ġorġ Borg	Horizons
Patchwork Orange	Dion P. Pizzuto	Faraxa Publishing
Sekwenzi: poeżiji (2017-2022)	Joe Friggieri	Kite Group
Tao	Caldon Mercieca	Kotba Calleja

Drama

Titlu tal-ktieb Book title	Awtur Author	Pubblikatur Publisher
Erba' Drammi għat-Teatru, Vol. 2	Albert Marshall	Horizons
Żewġ Fares għat-Teatrin, Vol. 1	Albert Marshall	Horizons
Fil-Ħajja li Jmiss u Drammi Oħra tat-Triq	Lon Kirkop	Merlin Publishers
Tebut Isfar	Clare Azzopardi	Merlin Publishers

Translation

Titlu tal-ktieb Book title	Traduttur Translator	Pubblikatur Publisher
It-Turufnament u s-Saltna (Albert Camus)	Toni Aquilina	Faraxa Publishing
L-Analetti (Konfuċju)	Salvatore Giuffrè	SKS
L-Għarib (Albert Camus)	Toni Aquilina	Faraxa Publishing
Mur ġibek... eżerċizzji ta' tortura u seduzzjoni (Irene Chias)	Mark Vella	Horizons
Pierre u Jean (Guy De Maupassant)	Joe Pulè	Faraxa Publishing
Storja Medika ta' Malta (Paul Cassar)	Godwin Ellul	Faraxa Publishing
Waqt (Wislawa Szymborska)	Antoine Cassar	Faraxa Publishing
Xtaqt Li Kont Merkurju (awturi varji / various authors)	Kit Azzopardi, Claudia Gauci, Justine Somerville (edi. / eds.)	Inizjamed

Literary Non-Fiction

Titlu tal-ktieb Book title	Awtur Author	Pubblikatur Publisher
And in Malta Is My Home	Ray Farrugia	Kite Group
Anxiety & Spirituality	Ricky Caruana	Ricky Caruana (awtoppubblikat / self-published)
Ħallejtna bħall-Erbgħa fost il-Ġimgħa	Sergio Grech	Merlin Publishers
Katya : Easy on the Tonic	Ramona Depares	MGRM
My Life and Times: Memories and Experiences of a Maltese Civil Servant	Alfred Fiorini Lowell	Kite Group
The 2022-2023 Horoscope by PaulJon	PaulJon Aquilina	PaulJon Aquilina (awtoppubblikat / self-published)

General Research

Titlu tal-ktieb Book title	Awtur Author	Pubblikatur Publisher
Architecture • Visions on Paper • Malta	Conrad Thake	Kite Group
Celebrating Music, a selection of good causes	Heritage Malta	Heritage Malta
A College for the Arts: Mikiel Anton Vassalli College	Victor Galea, Marie Angela Schembri Meli, Godwin Vella (edi. / eds.)	Mikiel Anton Vassalli College
Healthy Spaces: Co-Creating Child-Friendly Towns and Villages	Carmel Cefai, Rachel Spiteri, Natalie Galea (edi. / eds)	Commissioner for Children
Il-Ġrajja Ssir Kelma: Ngħarrxu fl-Imgħoddi u l-Preżent	Charles Briffa	Horizons
In the Footsteps of Antonello da Messina: The Antonelliani between Sicily and Venice	Charlene Vella	Midsea Books
L-Edukazzjoni Pubblika f’Malta Kolonja – 1800-1964	George Cassar	Kite Group
Manwal għall-Qari tal-Provi	Gabriel Grioli	BDL Publishing
Oliver Friggieri: Bejn Kliem u Linji	Terence Portelli, Nikki Petroni	Klabb Kotba Maltin
San Bartilmew: Appostlu u Martri	Simon Aquilina	Għaqda Monument San Bartilmew
The Art of Dying Well: Visual Cultures in Times of Piety and Plague Malta 1675-1814	Christian Attard	Kite Group
The Role and Symbolism of Flowers in Maltese Art	Glorian Micallef-Grimaud	Faraxa Publishing
Fidelis et Verax: essays in honour of His Grace Mgr Charles J. Scicluna	Stefan Attard, John Berry (edi. / eds.)	Kite Group

Biographical and Historiographic Research

Titlu tal-ktieb Book title	Awtur Author	Pubblikatur Publisher
Eddie: Is-Sewwa Jirbaħ Żgur	Dione Borg	BDL Publishing
Gustave R. Vincenti: An Architectural Legacy	David Ellul	Kite Group
Ir-Ruħ Tqell bil-Poeżija: Louis Briffa: Il-Ħsieb Inċanat	Charles Briffa	Horizons
Joseph Calleia: From Little Italy to Little Things	Alan Fenech	Heritage Malta
L-Għaqda tal-Pawlini: L-Ewwel Ħamsin Sena	Martin Gravina, Carl Farrugia (edi. / eds.)	L-Għaqda tal-Pawlini
Malta War Occurrences : The Police Logbooks 1940-1942	Jeffrey Sammut	BDL Publishing
Once upon a Time in 1798, 1799, 1800	Yosanne Vella	Midsea Books
Passport to Vice	Matthew Vella	Horizons
Patri Donat Spiteri, Qaddej tal-Kelma ta' Alla	Martin Micallef	Kite Group
Society Fashion in Malta: The Portrait Photography of Leandro Preziosi 1830-1869	Caroline Tonna	Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti
Survivors: The Ageing Population of Birgu	Joseph P. Smith	Joseph P. Smith (awtoppubblikat / self-published)
The Battle for Sicily's Soul	Claudine Cassar	Alert Publishing
The Front Page on the Frontline: The Maltese Newspapers and the Second War	Martin G. Debattista	Midsea Books
Decolonising the Maltese Mind: In Search of Identity	Charles Xuereb	Midsea Books
Slavery, Treason and Blood: The 1749 Plot of the Slaves in Malta	William Zammit	Heritage Malta
The Heritage Malta Official Guide to Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum	MariaElena Zammit	Heritage Malta
The Heritage Malta Official Guide to the National War Museum	Charles Debono	Heritage Malta
The Heritage Malta Official Guide to Fort St Angelo	Matthew Balzan	Heritage Malta

Terramaxka Prize 2023: Books 2022

Original Works for Children ages 0–7

Titlu tal-ktieb Book title	Awtur Author	Pubblikatur Publisher
Ana u Zak Isalvaw il-Pjaneta	Audrey Friggieri; Vincianne Scerri (ill.)	Merlin Publishers
Bejn Rima u Tbissima: Niskopru l-Annimali	Rebekah Grima; Kite Group (ill.)	Kite Group
Flavia: in-nagħġa li kienet tibża'	Maria Farrugia; Louiselle Sciberras (ill.)	BDL Publishing
Ftakar Nannu, Ftakar!	Doris Schembri; Ryan Galea u Philip Taliana (ill.)	Faraxa Publishing
Ħabiba Ġdida	Rachelle Cortis; Naomi Gatt (ill.)	Faraxa Publishing
Iċċaqlaq Nannu, Iċċaqlaq	Doris Schembri; Mildred Atanasio (ill.)	Faraxa Publishing
Id-Dar tal-Ħolm	Moira Scicluna Zahra	Merlin Publishers
Il-Bużu u ż-Żarbuna Maġika	Kelly Busuttil u Rita Saliba; Rebecca Zammit (ill.)	Klabb Kotba Maltin
Jien u Beppe, Beppe u Jien	Clare Azzopardi, Beppe Caruana; Kyle Xuereb Cunningham (ill.)	Merlin Publishers
Karolina, Ferdi u s-Saħħar il-Ħażin	Audrey Friggieri; Clarissa Sammut-Scerri; Kyle Xuereb Cunningham (ill.)	Merlin Publishers
Knockout Sam	Doris Schembri; Naomi Gatt (ill.)	Faraxa Publishing
L-Akbar Għalliem	David Aloisio; Rebecca Zammit (ill.)	Klabb Kotba Maltin
Luċjan u Enzo: is-sriedak li kienu jgħiru għal xulxin	Maria Farrugia; Louiselle Sciberras (ill.)	BDL Publishing
Marjulin Donnu Sema' Żveljarin	Lorraine Galea; Zvetlana Gambin Magro (ill.)	Pandora Publications
Naqra mal-Kokka	Alistair Chetcuti u Christine Ebejer; Christine Ebejer (ill.)	BDL Publishing
Oreste: iż-żiemel li kien imkabbar	Maria Farrugia; Louiselle Sciberras (ill.)	BDL Publishing
Stewart: il-ħanżir li kien buli	Maria Farrugia; Louiselle Sciberras (ill.)	BDL Publishing
Three Rabbits and a Sad Santa	William Vernon; Debbie Borg (ill.)	William Vernon (awtoppubblikat / self-published)
Il-Ħuta tal-Għerien	Charles Casha; Janet Vella (ill.)	Klabb Kotba Maltin
My Pet Cloud	Eric Sameed Turner; Charis B. Chusna (ill.)	Faraxa Publishing

Original Works for Children ages 8-12

Titlu tal-ktieb Book title	Awtur Author	Pubblikatur Publisher
Bis-Sens	Stephen Lughermo, Diane Farrugia	Horizons
Ejja Nsajru Poeżija: Versi, Logħob bil-Kliem u Aktar...	Trevor Żahra	Merlin Publishers
Fil-Punent ta' Malta / In the West of Malta	John A. Bonello; Lynn Norma Zammit Russell (ill.)	Serafin Books
Hazel u l-kostum tas-sirena	Claudia Micallef; Naomi Gatt (ill.)	Faraxa Publishing
Il-Bebbuxu Trumbetta	Claudia Aloisio; Matt Stroud (ill.)	Klabb Kotba Maltin
Warda Żżur lil Nannitha	Louise Chircop, Naomi Gatt (ill.)	Faraxa Publishing
Il-Kreatura taħt is-Sodda	Simon Bartolo, José Luís Ocaña (ill.)	Merlin Publishers
In-Nanna Se u l-Gremxula t-Tonda	Kenneth Gauci; BDL Publishing (ill.)	BDL Publishing
In-nemes u l-ballottra u stejjer oħra	Anthony Farrugia; Sue Flask (ill.)	Horizons
Ir-Raħal tan-Nani 7: Deffusu u l-Għasel; Bajtru, Bomblu u d-Dris	Ursola Borg; BDL Publishing (ill.)	BDL Publishing
Ir-Raħal tan-Nani 8: Bomblu u t-Tafal; Bomblu u l-Pastizzi	Ursola Borg; BDL Publishing (ill.)	BDL Publishing
Irvin Vella, Investigatur Virtwali: Il-Każ tal-Ħabsi Bla Ħtija	John A. Bonello, Francesca Grech (ill.)	Merlin Publishers
Jack u l-Kaxxa tal-Għodda	Claudia Micallef; Naomi Gatt (ill.)	Faraxa Publishing
Karamellu tar-Raħal t'Isfel: In-Nannu Karm	Carmel sive Charles Buttigieg; CN Creative Designs (ill.)	Erremme Business Advisors
Katrina u Mostru Inkwiet	Melanie Darmanin; Naomi Gatt (ill.)	Faraxa Publishing
Look What Happened to Grandma!	Florina Silvio; Naomi Gatt (ill.)	Faraxa Publishing
Mużajk ta' Kitbiet Ħelwin	Natasha Turner; Sue Flask (ill.)	Horizons
The Little Island that Found its Way	Lara Bezzina	Infinity Books
Tita Tmiss l-Art	Clare Azzopardi, Glen Calleja; Naomi Gatt (ill.)	Kotba Calleja
Wiżu u Debbie	Christopher Azzopardi; Bruno Carnaghi (ill.)	Wise Owl Publications
Steps: All a Family Needs to Know to Go for Walks in Central Malta	Clinton Cassar; Amanda Zahra	Merlin Publishers

Young Adult Literature

Titlu tal-ktieb Book title	Awtur Author	Pubblikatur Publisher
Ġganti	David Aloisio	Horizons
Xejriet Kulturali	Charles Briffa	Horizons

Translation for Children ages 0–7

Titlu tal-ktieb Book title	Traduttur Translator	Pubblikatur Publisher
Il-Ktieb tal-Kliem Maġiku u l-Manjieri Tajba (Tea Orsi; Anna Pini ill.)	Rachel Portelli	Merlin Publishers
Kieku Armadillo Jmur f’Ristorant (Ellen Fischer; Laura Wood ill.)	Janet Mallia	BDL Publishing
Kieku Ljunfant Imur l-Iskola (Ellen Fischer; Laura Wood ill.)	Janet Mallia	BDL Publishing
Nitgħallem il-Ħin ma' Lupu Lupettu (Orianne Lallemand; Éléonore Thuillier ill.)	Clare Azzopardi	Merlin Publishers

Translation for Children ages 8-12

Titlu tal-ktieb Book title	Traduttur Translator	Pubblikatur Publisher
Il-Ġurnalista: L-Istorja ta' Daphne Caruana Galizia (Gattaldo)	Immanuel Mifsud	Klabb Kotba Maltin
Il-Ħbieb tal-Annimali: Taqsima Investigattiva: Il-Mohor Midrub (Juliette Parachini-Deny u Oliver Dupin; Ariane Delrieu ill.)	Mark Vella	Merlin Publishers
Il-Ħbieb tal-Annimali: Taqsima Investigattiva: Il-Panda Ċkejkna Meħlus (Juliette Parachini-Deny u Oliver Dupin; Ariane Delrieu ill.)	Mark Vella	Merlin Publishers
Il-Ħmar li Fuqu Rikeb Sultan (R.C. Sproul; Chuck Groenik ill.)	Paul Mizzi	Dar tal-Pubblikazzjoni QUM
Il-Każ Miftuħ: Segwi l-Indizji! (Àngels Navarro; Jordi Sunyer ill.)	Noel Tanti	Merlin Publishers
Il-Pirati: Gżira Tassew Misterjuża! (Juliette Parachini-Deny u Oliver Dupin; Jérôme Pélissier ill.)	Mark Vella	Merlin Publishers
Il-Pirati: Ix-Xini Fantażma (Juliette Parachini-Deny u Oliver Dupin; Jérôme Pélissier ill.)	Mark Vella	Merlin Publishers
It-Tjur Jgħidu Le (Salvo Zappulla; Lucia Scuderi ill.)	Matthew Scerri	Faraxa Publishing
L-Istrajk tal-Ħut (Salvo Zappulla; Lucia Scuderi ill.)	Matthew Scerri	Faraxa Publishing
Orkubellu Fabrizio Silei; Fabrizio di Baldo ill.)	Claudia Gauci	Merlin Publishers
Vjaġġ f'Art is-Siġar (J. M. G. Le Clézio; Henri Galeron ill.)	Claudine Borg	Faraxa Publishing