Alfred Palma’s name is invariably linked to poetry, the longer novel and the translation of the great classics, such as Dante’s Divina Commedia, Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets, Oscar Wilde’s major works and Voltaire’s Candide. In his newest publication, however, he has also shown his prowess and mettle as a writer of short stories and other various writings.
Palma admits to having been writing these short stories since the 1960s, between sessions of other very taxing literary work, always relegating the stories to the bottom drawer of his desk (thus, the title of the book) in the hope of one day seeing them published. And these stories have now been published.
The collection consists of 25 short stories and other writings, all dealing with various situations. Some are hilarious to a degree; others are sad, nostalgic and downright tragic. A good number are written in Palma’s unique off-the-cuff sleazy style, much used in his notorious longer novels. But here, the author’s underlying scope seems to be the need to hit relentlessly at certain sections of the Maltese life-style which, in spite of the technological age and the attending progress, is sadly much alive and kicking in many of the locals. Palma hits out relentlessly at many shortcomings of human nature in general, but obstinately keeps the Maltese psyche to the fore, first and foremost as his main target, not meaning to be cruel or derisive of these same shortcomings, but to send a redeeming message of goodwill to all those who are willing to indulge in self-reflection, to admit to the extant haplessness of certain situations, and would welcome an improvement both in themselves and in local culture, particularly where this is desperately called for.
Many of the writings, particularly the last one Tema Con Variazioni, are direct hits at hypocrisy; others aim at sheer ignorance, rudeness, intolerance and prudishness. A good number deal with all forms of sex, (Rih ta’ Nofs Siegha, Incest, Elia and Il-Hadida tal-Moghdija); and here the author has been as explicit as he is wont to be. A few others, such as Il-Mara fil-Parapett, Il-Kamra Msakkra, Roberta, Holma…jew Realtà and Il-Qattus tal-Kina are pure and simply eerie and unnerving ghost stories, while others are rib-tickling, highly amusing and a joy to read and enjoy.
The predominant factors however are satire and cynicism, which Palma seems to enjoy lashing out mercilessly, very often in the most colourful of literary ways. In Il-Madonna tal-Banketta, the target is the Maltese festa with its aura of sheer paganism; in the hilarious Eurovision Song Contest 2015, the target is the Contest, of course, and the hullabaloo that goes with it, while ignorance is given a very sound beating in Phallus, and U jekk ma Tibkix…?
The themes are varied, colourful and hugely enjoyable. They are there to raise a laugh or otherwise draw a tear, but each and every writing is there to teach, and particularly to draw our attention, to make us conscious of ourselves, to help us address many of our shortcomings, to make us aware of our real selves, without the need to resort to the mask behind which we often have to hide ourselves and what we really feel!
Very interesting is the author’s blurb on the back cover of the book. He writes: “In our lives only the stage backdrops are changed; we never change! And this is what I have sought to expose in these writings: humanity in all its wealth and its poverty, its essential nature, its uselessness, in the illusion of eternal bliss, which humanity dons throughout a whole life, hiding all the time the tragedy that is born, lives and dies with it!”