New novel touches 'raw reality of life'

Civilisations and cultures do not clash but are made to clash by individuals, President Emeritus Guido de Marco said at the launch of a book that deals with the Templars and international Masonic intrigue.

The book - Of Craft And Honour And A Templar's Chronicles, by George G. Buttigieg - contains two narratives. One is set in Malta in the summer of 2008 and the other takes place in 1307 when all the Templars in France were arrested.

Sitting on the panel at the book launch, when various aspects of the 338-page novel were discussed, were Prof. de Marco, Fr Peter Serracino Inglott, Malcolm Barber from Reading University, Dennis Dziena, chairman of the Malta International Art Fund (MIAF), the book sponsor, Malcolm Miller, CEO of Miller Distributors Ltd, and Dr Buttigieg. Petra Bianchi chaired the panel.

Prof. Fr Serracino Inglott dealt with the religio-philosophical issues raised in the book and Prof. Barber, Emeritus professor of history who specialised in Templar studies, medieval heresy and the Crusades, explained how Dr Buttigieg's Templars, in spite of their individual weaknesses, seem a different breed to the Da Vinci's Templars.

Prof. de Marco evaluated some of the principles emanating from the book, including tolerance and the elimination of prejudice both in the religious sphere and in international politics as exemplified by the Israeli-Palestinian situation, which is also drawn into the book.

Mr Dziena spoke about Malta's role in saving the European culture in the two great sieges.

Mr Miller said that through Agenda outlets, his company was becoming more active in book publishing with a policy of giving exposure to new authors and subjects that highlight aspects of Malta or local culture.

The author, an obstetrician and gynaecologist by profession, described how writing for him was a form of catharsis where his imagination liberated him from life's daily problems. He asked readers to delve deeper into the book as many religio-philosophical issues mentioned in the narratives deal with the raw reality of life. He also gave a brief description of the Templar's history and its alleged metamorphosis into freemasonry and evaluated this notion between the 16th and 19th century ending with the modern period.

Of Craft And Honour And A Templar's Chronicles is available from all Agenda outlets and leading bookshops.