Recently Dr George Gregory Buttigieg, a senior lecturer at the University, published a book which although strictly fiction is based on historical facts with Malta as its background. The book is a welcome addition to our Melitensia.

The newly appointed Rector, Professor Juanito Camilleri, has mentioned that he wishes to see a combination of traditional and historical episodes surrounding Malta with present achievements to gain an impetus in ensuring success of the Malta product. As an example he mentioned the association of the Knights Hospitallers with our highly respected medical profession and the medical school, which has an outstanding reputation. A characteristic of our medical academics is that they have often contributed not only to the medical field, but also to cultural and scientific activities.

One could mention Sir Temi Zammit, who besides being a professor and rector at our University, also contributed in many fields, apart from that of medicine. In fact, he is also renowned for his distinguished contribution to archaeology.

More recently, we have the present Rector, Professor Roger Ellul Micallef, who contributed significantly to various historical aspects, adding to the monumental work of the late Dr Paul Cassar. Besides being an eminent psychiatrist in his own right and a lecturer at our University as well as an honorary Fellow, Dr Cassar has published a book which is considered the benchmark for most other work on the history of medicine in Malta.

There are many other healthcare professionals from the University who have contributed to historical and cultural aspects, in addition to the scientific areas of their particular specialisation. However, the recent publication by Dr Buttigieg may be said to be in a class of its own. This publication was an instant success as one could determine by its good sales and readership.

The book was received with excitement and the publishers Miller Distributors saw to it that it was given well deserved publicity in the local papers by both adverts as well as by learned reviews, and by organising a highly well attended launch placing it prominently on street billboards.

It is said that there is now an interest in presenting the book on the screen. Many have compared Buttigieg's book with that of Dan Brown's and these are being referred to as the B and B publications in unofficial circles.

The difference mainly lies in that Dan Brown's publishers could afford an international launch. And this is where the University comes into the picture. The University had its own publishing unit - a University of Malta Press.

It has succeeded to publish a very small number of books, albeit of a highly significant value. The University also has a bookshop on the premises. The bookshop is run by Agenda, which is also owned by the publishers of Buttigieg's book.

Perhaps the University should seriously think of joining forces with a publisher with a business acumen and also a press with significant experience, which can publish with the same quality and cost as that of international printers.

Professor Peter Serracino-Inglott, in his foreword to Dr Buttigieg's book Of Craft and Honour and a Templar's chronicles wrote that "this work has ingredients with the same power of fascination as are, for instance, to be found in works in third millennium agnosticism such as The Da Vinci Code, but without any extravagant figment of imagination such that a serious scholar would object to it."

I.M. Beck in his Saturday 'quote unquote' column wrote on Brown's book (The Times, April 22) that "an enormous whoop, one for joy, that was no doubt let out by Mr Dan Brown when he read about the Vatican busy-body who just recently saw fit to dedicate a sermon to the nefariousness of The Da Vinci Code.

"I mean to say, after only 93 weeks in the Sunday Times (the one in London) Best Seller list, I'm sure Mr Brown was starting to worry that the sales of his novel ("novel"-story, fictional, written to amuse and divert) were flagging, so another burst of fundamentalism was just what the doctor ordered."

It is a pity perhaps that some supporter of Pope Clement V who is described by Dr Buttigieg as the notorious Philippe le Bel's puppet (and perhaps even better still if these supporters are joined by some "anti- Templar" movement) did not come forward with a huge or at least a mild protest against Dr Buttigieg's writing.

This action would certainly have stimulated the already good sales of the book to a greater extent, perhaps putting it well on the road to the international market, at least, according to the philosophy of I.M. Beck.

However, as the situation stands today, there should be a concerted effort to sell Maltese-produced books on the international market. It is a question of marketing. As a bonus, such an action would help to put Malta's name on the map and such little actions help to attract the type of tourists we are now seeking, that is temple worshippers rather than just sun ones.

The setting of the book in Malta helps to advertise Malta the same way that books like Death on the Nile attracts tourists to spend an extra week in Egypt to include a Nile cruise. A novel written with the Great Siege as a background may be another book that could be marketed internationally.

The University Publications Committee should work hard in this area and should be assisted to internationalise the publications by the Malta Tourism Authority, Malta Enterprise and various embassies and ambassadors who may contribute by writing articles and reviews on Maltese-authored and produced books with Malta as a background.

The University, perhaps through its influence with academics in other universities, should help to put the book on the shelves of as many university libraries as possible.

There are other features that the Maltese academia and printer would need to contribute to have a publication acceptable on the international shelves. A note on Dan Brown's book states:

"Papers used by Transworld Publishers are natural, recyclable products made from wood grown in sustainable forests. The manufacturing processes conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin."

These aspects must be considered when embarking on projects of an international dimension. It is such innovations that Maltese citizens need to think of and pursue in order to expand our development. Science and technology are essentials for advancement but art and artists also have a great role to play in Malta's economic and cultural role.