The Literature of Malta: An Example of Unity in Diversity
by Arnold Cassola
Published by Minima
MINIMA PUBLISHERS have the pleasure to introduce to you to their latest
publication The Literature of Malta - An Example of Unity in Diversity by
Arnold Cassola.The republic of Malta, a member of the Commonwealth,
comprises the islands of Malta, Gozo, and Comino, which are located in the
central Mediterranean Sea between Sicily and Tunisia. This small country
with an area of 316 sq km (122 sq mi) and a population of just over a third
of a million boasts a fascinating history, chequered with diverse foreign
dominations and cultural influences, including the Arabs, the Knights of
the Order of St. John, and the English. The literary history of Malta thus
provides a fascinating insight in the way a national literature developed
through the peaceful and harmonious cohabitation of different linguistic
families that are normally the expression of diverse- and very often,
conflicting-cultures. The official languages of the Maltese archipelago are
Maltese, a Semitic language written in Latin script replete with various
lexical and syntactic influences from Italian and English, and English. If
we go back to the Middle Ages, and through the last five hundred years or
so, we realise that Malta can boast of a truly unique literary phenomenon.
In fact, during the centuries, the literature written by the Maltese has
been produced in no less than six languages namely Arabic, Latin, Sicilian,
Italian, Maltese, and English. Such a literary-linguistic phenomenon is
further enhanced by the fact that these six languages are an offshoot of
very different linguistic families.The books' running theme is thus the
concept of Unity in Diversity: the one and only real, authentic, and
distinctive contribution which Malta can make in its forthcoming adventure
in the European Union. The literature of Malta is characterised by its
success in achieving the peaceful cohabitation of opposites in the fields
of culture and literature.Arnold Cassola, lecturer of Maltese and
Comparative Literature at the University of Malta, is currently Secretary
General of the European Federation of Green Parties. He also lectured at
the Universities of Catania (1981-83) and Roma (La Sapienza) (1983-88).
Amongst his publications are The Great Siege of Malta (1565) and the
Istanbul State Archives (Malta, 1995), Pynchon, Malta and Wittgenstein (co-
authors P. Bianchi, A. Cassola, P. Serracino Inglott), The 1565 Ottoman
Malta Campaign Register (with the collaboration of I. Bostan and T.
Scheben, Malta 1998), and The Great Siege of Malta and Hipolito Sans' La
Maltea (Malta, 1999). Cassola 's articles and contributions to collective
works have been published in various academic journals in Canada, Croatia,
France, Great Britain, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Switzerland, and the
USA.This book should be of interest to students of Comparative Literature
and various other fields, such as Semitic languages and Cultures,
Mediterranean Studies, Commonwealth Literature, world literature in Italian
and English etc. If we go back to the Middle Ages, and through the last
five hundred years or so, we realise that Malta can boast of a truly unique
literary phenomenon. In fact, during the centuries, the literature written
by the Maltese has been produced in no less than six languages namely
Arabic, Latin, Sicilian, Italian, Maltese, and English. Such a literary-
linguistic phenomenon is further enhanced by the fact that these six
languages are an offshoot of very different linguistic families.The books'
running theme is thus the concept of Unity in Diversity: the one and only
real, authentic, and distinctive contribution which Malta can make in its
forthcoming adventure in the European Union. The literature of Malta is
characterised by its success in achieving the peaceful cohabitation of
opposites in the fields of culture and literature.
240pp., paperback, 30 illustrations
The Literature of Malta - An Example of Unity in Diversity by Arnold
Cassola is available from the publishers at the prices listed below. Please
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