The German Memoirs of a Maltese Intellectual – Giovan Francesco Buonamico (1639-1680), authored by Arnold Cassola, will be launched at the German-Maltese Circle, Messina Palace, 141, St Christopher Street in Valletta on Thursday, 10 October at 7pm. The book has been published by ProMinent Fluid Controls Ltd.

Giovan Francesco Buonamico was a man of great culture and wide-ranging interests, one of the greatest Maltese intellectuals of the 17th century. He is the author of a poem written in the Maltese language, but he was also a great polyglot. His unpublished work of greater prestige, the Memorie de viaggi di Giovan Francesco Buonamico nella Francia, Germania, Olanda, Fiandra, Lorena, Svizzera, Italia, Sicilia, spiaggie e varie isole della Grecia. Dall’Anno 1657 sin’ al’ 1666, is written in Italian.

Around 350 years ago, Buonamico visited some of the most beautiful cities in Europe. This book is an account of his travels in Germany between 1660 and 1661. Through these accounts, this foremost Maltese intellectual provided his fellow countrymen and women with a mine of information about many aspects of German topography, features and life in general to which they could not have any direct access.

What was Buonamico's impression of German cities and people? Was he tolerant of the various protestant movements he encountered? What struck him most about the German countryside?  Which historical figures left a lasting impression on our Maltese traveller?

These, and other aspects, will be discussed by Judge Giovanni Bonello, Dr Bernard Micallef, head of the Department of Maltese at the University of Malta, and the author, Prof Arnold Cassola, together with the Ambassador of Germany Klaus-Peter Brandes, who will give a short introductory presentation.

The general public is invited to attend.