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The National Book Prize and Terramaxka Prize 2020 – The shortlist

National Book Prize • News

20th July, 2020

Image of The National Book Prize and Terramaxka Prize 2020 – The shortlist

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 and on 16 July the Adjudication Board presented the shortlist. 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 book	Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor	Pubblikatur // Publisher
Echoes - Distant Voices: Distant Lives	Lou Drofenik	Horizons
Papa Aħmed	Joe Pace	Merlin Publishers
Il-Wiċċ l-Ieħor	Ġorġ Peresso	Horizons
O.B.E.	Rita Saliba	Klabb Kotba Maltin

Short stories in Maltese and English

Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of book	Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor	Pubblikatur // Publisher
Għall-Glorja tal-Patrija!: Kapriċċi Patrijottiċi	Aleks Farrugia	SKS Publishers
L-Aqwa Żmien	Immanuel Mifsud	Klabb Kotba Maltin
Bejn Bejnejn	Walid Nabhan	Klabb Kotba Maltin
Ħal Maqtugħ u Kitbiet Oħra	John Spiteri Gingell	BDL Publishing
Mill-Bieb 'il Ġewwa	Loranne Vella	Ede Books

Poetry in Maltese

Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of book	Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor	Pubblikatur // Publisher
Tluq	John Aquilina	Edizzjoni Skarta
Fuq Kaxxa tal-Birra Rasha 'l Isfel	Mario Cardona	Horizons
Ħlief Memorji u Dellijiet	Andrew Debono Cauchi	Klabb Kotba Maltin
Bejn Baħar u Baħar	Elizabeth Grech	Merlin Publishers
Madwar Sagħtejn u Nofs 'il Bogħod mill-Ġenna	Immanuel Mifsud	Klabb Kotba Maltin

Poetry in English

Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of book	Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor	Pubblikatur // Publisher
Lethe: A Rhapsody of Life Remembered	Louise Vella	Louise Vella

Drama in Maltese and English

Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of book	Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor	Pubblikatur // Publisher
L-Ispettur Bonnici: It-Triloġija	Mario Philip Azzopardi	Klabb Kotba Maltin
Għaliex Commedia? Għaliex Malta? Kollezzjoni t'Erba' Fares tal-Commedia dell'Arte	Narcy Calamatta, Iggy Fenech (ed.)	Narcy Calamatta
Żewġ Drammi: Appuntamenti/Repubblika Immakulata	Simone Spiteri	Simone Spiteri

Literary Non-fiction in Maltese and English

Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of book	Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor	Pubblikatur // Publisher
Murder on the Malta Express: Who Killed Daphne Caruana Galizia?	Carlo Bonini, Manuel Delia, John Sweeney	Midsea Books Ltd.
Tessie	Giola Cassar, Glen Calleja	Angela 'Giola' Cassar
Fittxu l-Ewwel is-Saltna	Andrew Galea	ĊAK - Religjon u Ħajja

Translation

Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of book	Traduttur/Editur // Translator/Editor	Pubblikatur // Publisher
Mix-Xaqliba ta' Dar Swann: Imħabba ta' Swann	Paul Zahra (trans.)	Paul Zahra

General Research

Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of book	Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor	Pubblikatur // Publisher
Maltese Lace: History and Mystery: Four Centuries of Bizzilla	Consiglia Azzopardi	Kite Group
Iċ-Ċimiterju ta' Santa Marija Addolorata: Storja, Arti, Personalitajiet	Eman Bonnici	Heritage Malta Publishing
Navigating the Maltese Mediascape	Joe Borg, Mary Anne Lauri	Kite Group
Dizzjunarju ta' Termini Nawtiċi u Tagħrif Ieħor Marittimu Lokali	Joseph Caruana	BDL Publishing
The Joannes Gennadius Maltese Treasure Trove in Athens	Arnold Cassola	Malta University Press
A Passage to Malta: The Health and Wellbeing of Foreign Children in Malta	Carmel Cefai, Moemi Keresztes, Natalie Galea Rachel Spiteri	Commissioner for Children, Malta
Salt Pans in Malta	Pauline Dingli	SKS Publishers
The Examined Life: Writings in Honour of Guido Lanfranco	Mark-Anthony Falzon (ed.)	Midsea Books Ltd.
Maltese Archives... My Choice	Charles J. Farrugia	Miller Distributors Ltd.
Quest for the Maltese Żaqq: A Lost Piping Tradition	Karl Partridge	Midsea Books Ltd., National Archives of Malta
Examining an Examination	Doreen Spiteri	Merlin Publishers

Biographical and Historiographic Research

Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of book	Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor	Pubblikatur // Publisher
Il-Kanonku Fortunato Panzavecchia 1797-1850: Raġel ta' Kultura u Qaddej tal-Patrija	David Agius-Muscat	Horizons
Lord Strickland: Plots and Intrigue in Colonial Malta	Victor Aquilina	Kite Group
Fuq il-Passi ta' Vassalli	Joseph P. Borg	Klabb Kotba Maltin, L-Akkademja tal-Malti
Philip Calleja: Għex għall-Bniedem Maqlugħ minn Għeruqu	Charles Buttigieg	Klabb Kotba Maltin
Pioneers of Modern Art in Malta Vol. 2	Joseph Paul Cassar	Heritage Malta Publishing
Buttons Parade: Military and Civilian Uniform Buttons in Malta	Denis Darmanin, George Cassar	Kite 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 Freller	Midsea Books Ltd.
The Sette Giugno in Maltese History 1919-2019	Henry Frendo	Midsea Books Ltd.
The Unreality of Realism: An Insular Perspective on the Development of Modern Art	Giuseppe Schembri-Bonaci	Horizons
Metal and Silence: The Quest for Daringness and Authenticity in the Arts	Giuseppe Schembri-Bonaci	Horizons

Terramaxka Prize 2020: books published in 2019

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

Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of book	Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor	Pubblikatur // Publisher
Tikka Poeżija għall-1 u t-2 sena	Clare Azzopardi	Merlin Publishers
Il-Lukanda ta' Martina	Antoinette Borg	Merlin Publishers
Mikelin	Sandra Hili Vassallo	Merlin Publishers

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

Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of book	Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor	Pubblikatur // Publisher
Arlekkin Isfar	Roberta Bajada	Merlin Publishers
Nicky Farrugia: Ir-Raġel tal-Ħadid (Tikka Qari L13)	Antoinette Borg	Merlin Publishers
Id-Dar ta' Faċċata	Carmel Borg	Merlin Publishers
Irvin Vella Investigatur Virtwali (4): Il-Każ Stella Maris	John A. Bonello	Merlin Publishers
L-Istorja ta' Seb it-Tieni (u ta' Seb l-Ewwel ukoll) (Tikka Qari L12)	Leanne Ellul	Merlin Publishers
Noè u l-Iskojjattlu Bla Kwiet	Leanne Ellul, Stephanie Bugeja	Merlin Publishers
Qabża f'Dinja Oħra mill-Klassi ta' Miss Ambrożja Pulis Kiftaranipenġini	Audrey Friggieri	Merlin Publishers
In-Nanna Se u l-Falkun taż-Żewġt Irjus	Kenneth Gauci	BDL Publishing
In-Nanna Se u Trullu Trullu	Kenneth Gauci	BDL 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 book	Traduttur/Editur // Translator/Editor	Pubblikatur // Publisher
Ottu Ma Jridx Jikber	Clare Azzopardi (trans.)	Merlin Publishers
Busy Skola Mimlija Tħabrik	Joanne 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 book	Traduttur/Editur // Translator/Editor	Pubblikatur // Publisher
Iċ-Ċkejken Prinċep	Clare Azzopardi (trans.)	Merlin Publishers
Meta Mmur għand Sieħbi Carlos	Clare Azzopardi (trans.)	Merlin Publishers
Vjola Ddur id-Dinja	Brian Buhagiar (trans.)	Merlin Publishers
Sherlock, Lupin u Jien 1: Is-Sinjura s-Sewda	Dwayne 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 Kelma	Leanne Ellul, Clare Azzopardi (trans.)	Merlin Publishers
Milied Imħawwad	Gorg Mallia (trans.)	Merlin Publishers