Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti has added the seventh volume of Giovanni Bonello’s Histories of Malta to Patrimonju’s impressive list of publications.

Histories of Malta Vol. VII – Closures and Disclosures was launched at Le Meridien Phoenicia Hotel yesterday in the presence of the Tourism and Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech, the chairman of Patrimonju, Maurice de Giorgio, general editor Paul Xuereb and the author, Judge Giovanni Bonello.

This latest volume is Patrimonju’s 31st publication and is a very worthy successor to its predecessors. Once again this latest series of Histories contains a wide range of subjects to suit every taste, from some rare examples of women knights of Malta to a mysterious Mary Magdalen in St John’s, from a story of murder in a Maltese monastery to POW’s in Malta during WW1.

Dr Xuereb commended the research found in these Histories particularly the chapters on the theatre in Malta before 1732, and on merry-making in Malta with special emphasis on dancing, fireworks and music.

Dr Zammit Dimech applauded Patrimonju for all its diverse and successful endeavours in the field of Malta’s fascinating cultural heritage, from the near completion of Malta’s first state-of-the-art museum at Palazzo Falson, Mdina, to all its very noteworthy publications, as well as the review Treasures of Malta which continues to go from strength to strength.

Giovanni Bonello also introduced his seventh histories, saying that he hoped that these dippings into our vast archives would once more stimulate further research into Malta’s varied and priceless heritage.

Histories of Malta Vol. VII – Closures and Disclosures retails at all leading booksellers in Malta and Gozo for the price of Lm18.95 hardbound and Lm15.95 for the paperback version.

The book signings are due to be held today at Casa Rocca Piccola at 12pm and tomorrow at Sapienza’s Bookshop at 12pm.