SKS Publishers expressed their satisfaction that two of its books published during 2016 have been shortlisted by the adjudication board of the 2017 edition of the National Book Prize. WESTERN: bejn rakkonti, bejn divertimenti (Alfred Sant) and L-Iżvilupp tal-Edukazzjoni f’Malta (1430-1920) (Joseph A. Xerri) will be among the titles competing for the National Book Prize which will be announced on 7 December, during a ceremony at Auberge de Castille under the patronage of the Prime Minister.
Western: bejn rakkonti, bejn divertimenti by Alfred Sant, a collection of short stories by Alfred Sant has been shortlisted in the category ‘Short Stories in Maltese and English’. In WESTERN the story, which shares its title with WESTERN the book, we follow the adventures of “il-Malti” – “the Maltese guy” who ends up in the Wyoming of the late 1860s. However, WESTERN the book goes beyond its title story. The themes of love and despair, nostalgia and broken memories, ambition and delusion always prevalent in Alfred Sant’s writings, recur though with the twists that characterize this twenty first century in its early decades .
L-Iżvilupp tal-Edukazzjoni f’Malta (1430-1920) by Joseph A. Xerri has been shortlisted in the Category ‘Biographical and Historiographic Research.’ This publication is an extensive history of the development of education in Malta until the 1930’s, a volatile period during which uncompropising linguistic and cultural clashes between the pro-Italian camp and the Anglophiles dominated the decade. Joseph A Scerri’s take on education in Malta includes economic, social and cultural viewpoints. The book displays constant sympathy towards working people who very often were exploited by the wealthy, the civil authorities and church authorities.
WESTERN and L-Iżvilupp tal-Edukazzjoni f’Malta will be on sale at the SKS Stand at the National Book Festival between 8-12 November at the Mediterranean Conference Centre. Alfred Sant and Joseph A. Xerri will be at the SKS Stand on Sunday 12 November between 11am-12pm to sign copies of these publications.