Id-dar tat-torri

Author: JA Filletti

Publisher: Enterprises Group (PEG) Ltd / 1986

Pages: 114

Readers might remember that when I recently was reviewing Judge Toni Abela's book of short stories I remarked that Abela chose to speak of stories that took place outside Malta, with just one exception. I remarked that not all authors, or judges, do so. I was thinking about this book.

Joseph A. Filletti was born in Msida. He worked as a teacher, and a parliamentary reporter until he was appointed a magistrate in 1979. Later he was promoted to judge.

This is not the first collection of short stories he has published. In 1982 he published Imhabba Qarrieqa and in 1984 Roulette. He is also a member of the Akkademja tal-Malti and Vice-president of the Alliance Francaise (de Malte).

The title of this slim book is actually the title of the last story in the book. Tucked away in a garden of a big house there is an old tower that is crumbling down. There are a number of legends about the tower and the house gets a bad name because of them. It is because of this bad name that the house and the tower have been long for sale without a prospective buyer.

In his other books, the author latches on to everyday events such as the relationship between husband and wife, superstition, sentimental crises, even a court sitting, etc.

Here we have 13 short stories. In the first one two former lovers meet again after a lapse of some years but their reunion is problematic. There is also a reunion of sorts in the next story but the successful business partners harbour a dark secret.

Sometimes the stories have the courts of law for the background and the tragedies that happen there. One exception to the law courts environment is the teaching of music and piano playing.

Other experiences come from travel and the impact on what one thought are bosom friends. Or tragedies at a fireworks factory.

Back to normality and a summer's lazy afternoon in a small garden until the daughter of the house unleashes her bombshell.

Next, a doctor gets involved in a honey trap. And a respectable man is arrested and investigated. And one gets invited to spend some time in a totalitarian country.