Exploring history and culture, Giovanni Bonello talks to Peter Farrugia about Malta’s unique relationship with its multifaceted past.

If Giovanni Francesco Abela is the father of Maltese history, Giovanni Bonello has fast become its most popular champion.

Former European Court of Human Rights judge Giovanni Bonello continues to be a major voice in directing popular perceptions of Maltese history through his series of books and their defining blend of humour and erudition.

He brought historical appreciation to people who might never have engaged with Melitensia at all, and as the new president of the Malta Historical Society (which celebrated its 60th anniversary last year) Bonello is perfectly placed to motivate a new generation of Melitensia enthusiasts.

“The Historical Society has proved its worth, it doesn’t need much revamping,” says Bonello. “What’s most important is encouraging more participation from younger people. There are plans to put a formal strategy in effect to rope in a broader audience.”

The society tends to attract established patrons already aware of its scholarly efforts but Bonello’s focus is not entirely academic. He’s keenly aware of how important it has become to create meaningful encounters between the society and the general public.

“I dislike books written by professors for professors. My books target the sort of reader who’d enjoy The Sunday Times on the beach, one who would stop to read about Maltese history and art. They’re not intended to turn on academics.”

With various series available (his celebrated Histories of Malta first among them) Bonello has crafted a style entirely suited to the interests of an intelligent and inquisitive reader. It’s a conversational tone that evokes all the layers of Malta with a raconteur flair, never dour or imposing.

“I’ve been criticised for writing about the seedier side of Malta,” says Bonello, “and when I first began researching I was interested in information about criminal law during the 15th and 17th centuries.” That first foray led to future journeys through the archives, the material memory of Malta’s past.

“There’s a lot about sex, violence and vice. There are more sinners than saints in the records.”

If there’s a distinctly Maltese phenomenon that Bonello identifies with in his writing, it’s the way history has never been the privileged preserve of academia. “It’s 50 per cent academics and the rest of our writers are passionate amateurs, the village historian”. And the result of this interplay between technical know-how and passion have kept the scene vibrant for decades.

“The average man in the street is deeply interested in his own history. The more Malta is affected by globalisation, the more central the village festa has become. It’s never been so popular. We want our roots to be as close to us as possible.”

In the face of globalisation and multi-culturalism, there’s an equally strong pull towards the things which root and reassure us. Bonello leans across his desk and says, “the most well thumbed book at the public library, practically in tatters, is the book with Maltese coats of arms. That’s your fingerprint.”

Inevitably, one might ask – how positive is this attitude and how much of it is simply reactionary and nostalgic? But Bonello’s idea of nostalgia involves far deeper emotions than might be imagined. “It’s what links us affectionately to the past. We can’t let ourselves be blocked from progress, Malta has gone forward in leaps and bounds. This isn’t a hankering for something, but a real link to who we were.”

The little village, the family ties within ever expanding social circles, are still extremely important. “We’re in a box,” says Bonello, “but it’s now a larger box.”

The conversation turns to talk of the University of Malta’s very active History and History of Art departments, excellent catchment areas for future society members and contributors.

Generating a greater appreciation of culture is a goal never far from Bonello’s mind and while society events are well attended and draw international speakers, it’s time to cast the net a little wider.

Essentially, museums and grass-roots initiatives need to work hand in hand with organisations like the society. The authorities are making token gestures to encourage cultural upgrades, but “the Maltese are,” says Bonello, “resistant to change”.

“The pursuit of culture for its own sake has been on the back burner for a long time,” he continues; “historic houses and museums only have visitors when they’re free. There just isn’t a popular response to arts events – pop concerts draw 20,000 but a Caravaggio exhibition? Far less.”

Truly understanding the scope of cultural preservation must include all facets of national and individual identity.

In a comment regarding the furor over crucifixes in public places within the EU, Prof. Paolo Carozza (former President of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights) quoted Bonello in support of a deepened understanding of Europe’s roots, saying it was the most salient comment to come out of the Strasbourg Court in 60 years.

The sentiment was more recently reinforced by the Holy See, which warned of the dangers of cultural “amnesia” in this regard.

“People need to be kept aware of movements in the culture. We have The Sunday Times, which gives a lot of coverage to cultural and historical issues. It’s a pioneer in setting standards.”

Bonello remarks on the way British and Italian friends are amazed at the space dedicated in the weekly paper to historical issues. Perhaps this fundamental interest in ourselves, our families and sense of self makes the stories he unearths more than simple amusements, but integral elements in our living narrative.

“I’m confident the society will thrive,” concludes Bonello, “as long as there is a audience for it among all generations, and the media continues to promote curiosity in our history and culture.”

Melitensia fans can now buy Bonello’s Histories of Malta volume 11– Travesties and Dynasties. Nostalgias of Malta volume 6 as well as a new Treasures of Malta edition will be available soon. All published by Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti.

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