Thomas Freller’s numerous books and articles on people, incidents and customs relating to the history of Malta are well known. His substantial new and scholarly work on the authors who have written about Malta since classical times up to 1900 will provide the first overarching view of the many authors, famous and obscure, who have written about Malta.

Freller places the various works within the literary and political context of their times, and his knowledge of the highways and byways of Maltese history enables him to explore in depth authors’ attitudes to Malta and to the Order of St John.

Beginning with classical literature and the Acts of the Apostles, Freller goes on to write chapters on English, Italian, French, Spanish and German authors from the 16th to the end of the 19th century.

A few of the authors whose works are examined by Freller are: Christopher Marlowe, Lope de Vega, Friedrich Schiller, Sir Walter Scott, Prévost d’Exiles, Washington Irving, Jules Verne and Gabriele Rossetti.

Verses and Visions is being launched by Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti next Saturday 17 May at 12 noon in the Green Lounge of the Hotel Phoenicia, Floriana; the guest speaker is Professor Peter Vassallo. The book can be bought at a special pre-publication price (€34 instead of €40 for the hardback, and €24 instead of €29 for the paperback) until the 17th.