If books could cry I'm sure they would do so at the reported lack of appreciation for them in Malta. The Maltese read the least number of books within the EU, according to new data on culture released by Eurostat. That was not a very auspicious backdrop to this year's Book Fair, organised by the hardworking National Council for the Book. The curtain will be raised on Tuesday, at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, with people able to visit up to Sunday.

The Eurostat report will not be confirmed there. The organisers have put in a great deal of effort. The star of the show will be the book. Maligned as statistics make it out to be, thousands of books are imported each year and, more improbably, thousands more are put out by publishing houses which handle the amazingly plentiful output of Malta's writers, the young and upcoming and the not so young.

Several books will be launched at the fair during the week. Among them I shall be looking out with particular interest for George Peresso's latest novel, Meta l-Harifa Tiskot. The poetic title reflects his personality and way of thinking. The book will be launched on Friday. The day before, Thursday at 6.30p.m., my publishers - PEG - will launch my collection of 'political' short stories, L-Onorevoli, a companion to my collection of memories, Jien u Ghaddej fil-Politika. That was launched in March and - I was surprised and pleased to note - struck a chord with many readers.

The stories in L-Onorevoli all have a political background of sorts, with silly or crooked ministers and MPs vying for attention with the anonymous humble folk from whom they beg votes. I wrote the stories during my years in politics and they are to be found here and there in the seven collections of short stories I have published since 1968. Critically revised in this edition they flesh out what politics and politicians are - and are not - about.

Those who feel like coming to the launch will be able to help themselves to a glass of wine to wash down whatever taste the evening will leave them with. I'll sign copies of the book, if asked, and follow up with a signing session at Sapienza's on November 24. Of the various hats I wear, and have worn, that of a humble writer is the one I have always cared the most about.

My short stories will be in fine company. Two other collections will be launched by Klabb Kotba Maltin, Charles Casha's Gallarija and Lina Brockdorf's Il-Bieb Numru Hdax. The University's Ghaqda tal-Malti will be doing a service to Maltese literature by reviving the short stories of one of Malta's literary pioneers, Guzè Bonnici.

Whatever Eurostat says, there are thousands of readers who seek out books in Malta. They sustain writers of all ages, as the Book Fair will again show. While imported books will sell well, as they always do, the offerings of a handsome range of Maltese authors will surely challenge. There is prejudice against the Maltese language and its literature. Yet there is also a great love for it. Owners of Militensia will, I'm sure, appreciate this Book Fair's very generous range.

Maltese writers will not only be present in their own language. Charles Briffa, for instance, will be there in English with what his publishers, Allied Newspapers, term a substantial introduction to Mario Azzopardi. Travelling Between Shadows will explore social comedy and narrative in Mario's work. The twinning of a master critic like Dr Briffa and a foremost literary figure like Mario Azzopardi whets the appetite even before one has opened the in-depth introduction. The same publishing house is also launching Bernard A. Vassallo's Prehistoric Malta, Europe and North Africa. PIN will present Conversations with 12 Maltese Artists, by Joseph Paul Cassar.

Back to Maltese, and that marvellous veteran poet Achille Mizzi will launch his Eklissi Perpetwi. Maltese poetry will have its festival with readings by a clutch of established and younger Maltese poets, among them Victor Fenech and Louis Briffa.

The Italian language, one trusts, will be represented by Oliver Friggieri's labour of love about the national poet - Dun Karm - Le Poesie Italiane, published by the Malta University Press. Prof. Friggieri has spent 35 years tracing all of the great poet's output in Italian, which was his forte before he switched to Maltese in the context of the language question. Friggeri embarked on a spiritual journey to make sure he gave Dun Karm his due, as he had done so tellingly in regard to another of our great poets, Ruzar Briffa.

However relatively few Maltese readers of books there may really be, they will count themselves lucky that tiny Malta boasts a dynamic literary tradition which, though young, is so well established. Malta's fair book is among the fairest of them all.

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