Malta’s manuscript of Poetics

Aristotle

The Malta Classics Association will launch its first book-publication during a cultural evening being held on July 6.

This is also the first in a series of publications related to the classical world that the Association will issue in collaboration with BDL Publishing.

The book, entitled Dwar l-arti tal-poeżija, is a translation of Aristotle’s Peri poietikes, traditionally known as Aristotle’s Poetics.

This short treatise contains the Greek philosopher’s analysis of what constitutes the best tragic drama. A complex and controversial work, it has always been considered a seminal and fundamental text in the history of literary criticism.

Lost to the Western world during the Middle Ages, it was rediscovered during the Renaissance and continued to hold a unique authority in the subsequent centuries among literary theorists and playwrights alike.

Nowadays, the Poetics is still endlessly studied, not merely for the many insights it provides to the understanding of Greek tragedy as a theatre and literary genre, but also for the vicissitudes of interpretation in the history of its transmission through the ages.

Karmenu Serracino has translated the Poetics for the first time from the original Greek into Maltese. The translation is fully annotated. In the comprehensive introduction, Mr Serracino provides a solid background to an understanding of the position of poetry in Greek life and thought, starting from the early epics of Homer.

This is also the first Maltese translation of a complete work of Aristotle.

The launch-event is being hosted by Għaqda Talent Mosti at the delightful Razzett tal-Markiz in Mosta, starting at 8.30 p.m. Actors will perform excerpts from Greek and neoclassical drama.