The official launching of the latest edition of Il-Kappillan ta’ Malta was held at San Lawrenz, Gozo, on Friday, 13 April, 2018. The novel, originally written by Liverpool-born Nicholas Monsarrat, was translated into Maltese by Wistin Born, the well-known author of Is-Salib tal-Fidda.
Present for the launching was the Minister for Gozo, Justyne Caruana, and the Local Council mayor, Noel Formosa. An original manuscript with Monsarrat’s jottings for the plot of the novel, bequeathed by Monsarrat’s widow to the village of San Lawrenz, was on show.
Nicholas Monsarrat wrote The Kappillan of Malta in Gozo while residing here. When the novel was published in 1973, Wistin Born acquired the author’s permissing to translated into Maltese to have it read on Rediffusion by Charles Arrigo. The reading was done during the last months of 1974 and the beginning of 1975.
“Gozo has always offered a warm welcome to all those, Maltese and foreigners alike, who required the peace and unique benefits of Malta’s sister-island,” said the Minister for Gozo, “and continues to do so with open arms.”
This first edition in Maltese of Monsarrat’s famous novel, which had also been translated into Spanish, French, German and Portugese, was edited by Mark Montebello, a Dominican friar like Wistin Born, and issued by SKS Publishers.
“Monsarrat lived at San Lawrenz as part of the community,” said Local Council mayor, “He did not keep apart, even carrying all the expenses for a yearly Christmas party organised for all the children of the village.” The mayor encouraged all foreigners residing in Gozo to integrate.
The launching was held close to the residence formerly belonging to Nicholas Monsarrat at San Lawrenz. He lived here with his wife Anne during for ten years until his death in 1979.
Fr Mark Montebello, the book’s editor, said that Monsarrat paid special attention to include Gozo in the novel. Monsarrat loved Gozo, and did not want to leave the Gozitans out of his tribute to the Maltese people.
The book is selling at €12.99 on sale from all major bookshops.