Donna Lynn Calleja presented an anthology of Nikol Biancardi’s short stories to the Prime Minister Il-Ħalliel tal-Mejtin (The grave thief)  which includes 39 novels and a biography of Biancardi, has been published by SKS Publishers to mark the 90 anniversary of the first May Day celebration in Malta. Biancardi (1904-1969) wrote novels over a forty-year career and formed part of a group of writers, thinkers and politicians that sought to establish socialist thought in Malta. Valletta born and bred Nikol Biancardi, was a pioneer of socialist thought, an enterprising theatre impresario.

In fact, he was among Labour intellectuals like John F. Marks, Ġuże’ Ellul Mercer, Gino Muscat Azzopardi, Pawlu Boffa  who campaigned  for the celebration of International Workers’ Day in Malta, in line with other European states.

The first May Day commemoration in Malta took place in Senglea in 1926.

The Prime Minister congratulated  Donna Lynn Calleja’s efforts to uncover this important literary documentation on social life in Malta in the first three decades of the 20th century.

The book will be launched on May Day in Valletta. “Nikol Biancardi had no siblings or relatives so it is no exaggeration to say that he has been revived from a literary grave”, said SKS Publishers.