A packed theatre attended the official launching of the Maltese version of Nicholas Monsarrat’s 1973 novel, The Kappillan of Malta at Palazzo De La Salle, Valletta. The translation is by the well-known author of Is-Salib tal-Fidda, Wistin Born.

“Il-Kappillan ta’ Malta is a novel for our times,” said Mark Montebello, the editor of the book, “It recalls Malta and Gozo’s chequered history, it celebrates the beauty of the Maltese language, and it conveys a powerful message of courage to people facing life’s distress.”

The translation was made by Wistin Born a few months after the novel was issued in order for it to be read by Charles Arrigo on Rediffusion. The novel was read during the last months before Rediffusion was closed down at the beginning of 1975.

The launching event was graced by the dramatised reading of excerpts from the novel. This was beautifully done by Clive Piscopo, Lee-N Abela and Joseph Galea.

Monsarrat wrote The Kappillan of Malta in Gozo while residing at San Lawrence, a village of a few hundred people, from 1968 till his death in 1979.

Members of the audience recalled the sterling work which had been done by Wistin Born at Rediffusion for many years, the masterly use of the Maltese language throughout the novel, and the intensity of the novel’s narrative.

 

The book, published by SKS, is on sale from all major bookshops for €12.99.