Horizons Communications has published another book written by Salv Sammut, Xbihat fuq it-Tila (Figures in a Landscape). The title instantly implies an element of symbolism and metaphor of imagined characters allegorically painted on life’s canvas by an observant writer.
This publication is presented in a group of 18 novels with a critical introduction by the late academic Frans Sammut. Like in his previous publications, Sammut writes with everyday realism, that, apart from the opening fairy tale, all the other novels are based on the realism one encounters in his daily strives.
He pays rigid attention to the Maltese that is still in common use but let himself go with modern anglo-Maltese in dialogue sequences.
In his introduction to these novels, Sammut wrote: “Apart from the credibility of the personages presented to us, the writer creates an environ-ment of make-beliefs, dialogue and colourful images that makes the story authentic in the personages’ actions whether in disheartedness in failure of expectations or still of the futility in mastering all the obstacles in their way.”
The novels could be grouped in four categories. The Romantics – Mit-Taqlib tal-Imgħoddi (From Past Upheaval), F’Jum Ikħal tas-Sajf (On a Clear Summer’s Day), It-Tfajla tal-Vetrina (The Girl at the Window) and Id-Daqqaq tal-Vjolin (The Violin Player).
The second category has the social aspect like Il-Ġurdien (The Rat), Is-Sajjied (The Fisherman), Il-Midjun (The Debtor) and Il-Pusher (The Pusher).
The psychological ones in the third category are Fl-Iskur tal-Akkwarell (In the Dark Shade of the Acquarelle) and Iħirsa (Ghosts).
The fourth category is the political ones Il-Politiku (The Politician) and Ir-Rappreżentant (The Representative).
Sammut is fluent in writing tales and novels up to a certain length that provokes the reader to the end of his reading. He also intrigues the book lover with simple and gentle stories in a poetic mood that through these he reaches the reality of life. He has the ability of creating events with simplicity and thus he emerges as a good observer of characters in excellent plots.
Xbihat Fuq it-Tila is a collection of novels written over a spread of decades that should be read and appreciated both by the enthusiastic reader in his leisurely time and also by clever critics for their values in literature.