The National Book Council is proud to announce the shortlist for the 2021 National Book Prize and Terramaxka 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. All shortlisted books can be found in bookstores and publishers’ online shops, and will be available at the upcoming 2021 Malta Book Festival (3–7 November) to be held at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC), Ta’ Qali.
The 2021 shortlist includes 62 titles out of 154 longlisted works; 46 books have been shortlisted across seven National Book Prize categories, and 16 books for children and adolescents have been shortlisted in four Terramaxka Prize categories. As of this year’s edition, the Translation category has been broadened to include works of non-fiction, poetry and drama in Maltese translation, as well as works of fiction, while the Poetry category is once again considering poetry collections written in either Maltese or English.
The National Book Prize recognises works of literature and research in a number of categories including Novels, Literary Non-Fiction, Translation, Poetry and Short Story collections, the latter of which this year presents a particularly noteworthy set of titles by well established authors such as Trevor Żahra and Joe Friggieri, alongside collections by Rita Saliba, Joe Camilleri, and EUPL and 2020 Best Emergent Author prize winner Lara Calleja. Reinforcing a trend over the past years, the categories for General Research, and Biographical and Historiographic Research feature the greatest number of shortlisted works with a list of accomplished titles covering a wide range of Melitensia subjects and beyond. No works have been shortlisted in the Original Works for Adolescents (ages 13-16) category within the Terramaxka Prize, while the categories for Books translated into Maltese (ages 13-16) and Drama received no submissions.
The adjudication process was first launched in May 2021 with the publication of the National Book Prize longlist. The shortlist was delivered to the NBC by the adjudication board on 26 July.
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 2 November during the official opening of the 2021 Malta Book Festival. The winners of the 2021 National Book Prize will be announced at an awards ceremony later in December.
For further updates concerning the 2021 National Book Prize and Terramaxka Prize follow the National Book Council Facebook page and website.
National Book Prize 2021: books published in 2020
Novels in Maltese and English
| Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of book | Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor | Pubblikatur // Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Tlettax | Kenneth Caruana | Horizons |
| In-Nar Għandu Isem: Noti minn Paġna Intima | Gioele Galea | Horizons |
Short stories in Maltese and English
| Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of book | Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor | Pubblikatur // Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Kissirtu Kullimkien | Lara Calleja | Merlin Publishers |
| Mużajċi tat-Tafal | Joe Camilleri | Horizons |
| Widnet il-Baħar u Stejjer Oħra | Joe Friggieri | Kite Group |
| MittKelma | Rita Saliba | Klabb Kotba Maltin |
| Sempreviva | Trevor Żahra | Merlin Publishers |
Poetry in Maltese and English
| Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of book | Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor | Pubblikatur // Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Tgħanniq Ieħor: Poeżiji mill-Iżolament | Kit Azzopardi, Simone Ingauenez, John P. Portelli (eds.) | Horizons |
| L-Inventarju tal-Kamra l-Kaħla | Leanne Ellul | Merlin Publishers |
| Imkien għall-Kenn: Poeżiji | John P. Portelli | Horizons |
| Megalomanija Perversa: Poeżiji | Justin Schembri | Horizons |
| L-Ambjent li Qeridna: Poeżiji (2017-2020) | Carmel Scicluna | Horizons |
Drama in Maltese and English
No submissions received.
Translation
| Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of book | Traduttur // Translator | Pubblikatur // Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Il-Waqgħa (Albert Camus) | Toni Aquilina | Faraxa Publishing |
| Ħija Jiġri wara d-Dinosawri (Giacomo Mazzariol) | Ludvic Azzopardi Ferrando | Merlin Publishers |
| Otello (William Shakespeare) | Alfred Palma | Alfred Palma |
| Siġar (Hermann Hesse) | Terence Portelli | Klabb Kotba Maltin |
| L-Aħħar Sajf ta' Berlin (Federico Buffa, Paolo Frusca) | Mark Vella | Merlin Publishers |
| Mix-Xaqliba ta' Dar Swann – Ismijiet ta' Pajjiżi: L-Isem (Marcel Proust) | Paul Zahra | Paul Zahra |
Literary non-Fiction
| Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of book | Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor | Pubblikatur // Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Sejjieħ il-Ħsieb: Limitu u Ħelsien | John Baldacchino | Klabb Kotba Maltin |
| The Strings of Fate | Ricky Caruana | Ricky Caruana |
| Justice for Daphne is Justice for Our Right to Know: The Book of the Art Installation | Alessandra Dee Crespo (cur.) | Midsea Books |
| Daniel Holmes: A Memoir from Malta's Prison: From a Cage, on a Rock, in a Puddle... | Daniel Holmes | Lovin Malta |
| Jien - Noti - Jien: Ħsejjes u Stejjer | Immanuel Mifsud, Toni Sant | Klabb Kotba Maltin |
General Research
| Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of book | Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor | Pubblikatur // Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Bil-Kelma t-Tajba: Prinċipji u Kreattività fil Pedagoġija tal-Lingwa | Antoinette Camilleri Grima | Klabb Kotba Maltin |
| Tourism and the Maltese Islands: Observations, Reflections and Proposals | George Cassar, Marie Avellino | Kite Group |
| L-Ekonomija f'Ilsien ix-Xjenza u l-Filosofija | John A. Consiglio | Faraxa Publishing |
| Is-Sessiżmu fil-Lingwa Maltija | George Farrugia (ed.) | Klabb Kotba Maltin, L-Akkademja tal-Malti |
| The Spazju Kreattiv Art Collection | Toni Sant | Fondazzjoni Ċentru għall-Kreattività |
| The Beheading of Ignez: Katabasis, Ezra Pound and Three Maltese Artists | Giuseppe Schembri Bonaci | Horizons |
| APS Mdina Cathedral Contemporary Art Biennale 2020 – Regaining a Paradise Lost: The Role of the Arts | Giuseppe Schembri Bonaci, Nikki Petroni | Mdina Cathedral Museum, APS Bank, APS Mdina Biennale |
Biographical and Historiographic Research
| Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of book | Awtur/Editur // Author/Editor | Pubblikatur // Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Ta' Ġieżu Crucifix: Faith - History - Iconography - Conservation | Christian Attard (ed.) | Arċikonfraternità tas-Santissimu Kurċifiss, Il-Belt Valletta |
| Ta' Liesse: Malta's Waterfront Shrine for Mariners | Giovanni Bonello (ed.) | Miller Distributors Ltd. |
| Dellijiet Jgħajtu fir-Ras: Mario Azzopardi: Poeżija, Narrattiva u Kummiedja Soċjali | Charles Briffa | Horizons |
| Ruħu Dejjem Tfittex: Charles Casha: Mgħallem Għalliel | Charles Briffa | Klabb Kotba Maltin |
| Maltese Migration in Tunisian Coastal Towns (1836-1844) | Arnold Cassola | Morrone Editore |
| San Ġużepp tar-Rabat tal-Imdina: Storja ta' Devozzjoni u Arti | Jeremy Debono | Jeremy Debono |
| Documentary Sources on the Maltese Eighteenth Century Carnival: Il Ballo del Battito or Parata | John Debono (ed.) | John Debono (ed.) |
| Princess Poutiatine and the Art of Ballet in Malta | Kathrina Farrugia-Kriel (ed.) | Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti |
| Diaspora: Maltese Overseas Settlement | Henry Frendo | Midsea Books |
| L-Istorja tal-Partit Laburista: It-Tieni Volum (1940-1960) | Francis Galea | SKS Publishers |
| Trevor Żahra: Bejn Storja u Miti: Ġabra ta' Kitbiet | Sergio Grech (ed.) | Horizons |
| Crux Invicta: Il-Kurċifiss Mirakuluż u l-Kapuċċini f'Għawdex | Martin Micallef | Midsea Books |
| Albert Ganado: Ħajja Mhux tas-Soltu | Austin Sammut, Sergio Grech (eds.) | Klabb Kotba Maltin |
| Mattia Preti: Life and Works | Keith Sciberras | Midsea Books |
| Country Villas in XVIII Century Malta | Carmel Spiteri | Kite Group |
| The Addolorata Cemetery | Conrad Thake (ed.) | Midsea Books |
Terramaxka 2021: books published in 2020
Original works: books for children (ages 0-7)
| Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of book | Awtur/Illustratur // Author/Illustrator | Pubblikatur // Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| L-Għasfur tal-Kwiekeb | Charles Casha, Matthew Stroud (Illustratur / Illustrator) | Klabb Kotba Maltin |
| Enya l-Aljena... Reġina b'Kumbinazzjoni! (Tikka Qari Livell 7) | Audrey Friggieri, Romont Willy (Illustratur / Illustrator) | Merlin Publishers |
| Tal-Forn | Noel Tanti, Matt Stroud (Illustratur / Illustrator) | Merlin Publishers |
| Pito u Pita | Daniella Zerafa, Matthew Stroud (Illustratur / Illustrator) | Horizons |
Original works: books for children (ages 8-12)
| Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of book | Awtur/Illustratur // Author/Illustrator | Pubblikatur // Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Il-Kreatura tal-Bir | Simon Bartolo, José Luis Oscaña (Illustratur / Illustrator) | Merlin Publishers |
| Tara Frendo fuq il-Pjaneta Sturja (Tikka Qari Livell 15) | Antoinette Borg, Nicole Diacono (Illustratur / Illustrator) | Merlin Publishers |
| Amazing Maltese Women | Kristina Chetcuti, Marisa Attard (Illustratur / Illustrator) | Merlin Publishers |
| Stellini Kursar Malti (Tikka Qari Livell 14) | Dwayne Ellul, Moira Scicluna Zahra (Illustratur / Illustrator) | Merlin Publishers |
| Il-Mostru tal-Bajja tal-Ġnejna (Tikka Qari Livell 14) | Leanne Ellul, Maxime Lebrun (Illustratur / Illustrator) | Merlin Publishers |
| It-Tifel li Salva d-Dinja (Tikka Qari Livell 12) | Karl Schembri, Alice Samuel (Illustratur / Illustrator) | Merlin Publishers |
Original works: books for adolescents (ages 13-16)
No titles shortlisted
Books translated into Maltese (ages 0-7)
| Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of book | Traduttur // Translator | Pubblikatur // Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Lenard il-Papru tad-Daħq (Yann Walcker, Julie Mercier ill.) | Clare Azzopardi | Merlin Publishers |
| Lupu Lupettu Jfittex Maħbuba (Orianne Lallemand, Éléonore Thuillier ill.) | Clare Azzopardi | Merlin Publishers |
| Lupu Lupettu Jrid Isir Artist (Orianne Lallemand, Éléonore Thuillier ill.) | Clare Azzopardi | Merlin Publishers |
| Ors fl-Ispazju (Deborah Abela, Marjorie Crosby-Fairall ill.) | Clare Azzopardi | Merlin Publishers |
| Wiżżu Ħdejn il-Baħar (Laura Wall) | Rebby Vella | Wise Owl Publications |
Books translated into Maltese (ages 8-12)
| Titlu tal-ktieb // Title of book | Traduttur // Translator | Pubblikatur // Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Il-Familja Frattarija u d-dar li tagħtas (Kari Smeland, Francesca Grech ill.) | Simone Inguanez | Merlin Publishers |
Books translated into Maltese (ages 13-16)
No submissions received.
