Five novels have been named to the 2016 National Book Prize shortlist, the National Book Council announced yesterday.

Novels by Lizzie Eldridge, Martin Bugelli, Lorraine Galea, Gabriel Schembri and Alex Vella Gera all made the final cut and will compete for the prize of best novel in Maltese or English. 

Shortlists were also announced for the National Book Prize's six other categories, from best short story to poetry, translation, historiographic research and general research.

Nominees for the 2016 edition of the Terramaxka book prize were also announced. The prize, which focuses on children's literature, includes five categories. 

In a statement announcing the shortlists, the National Book Council expressed delight at the fact that a significant number of new authors featured on this year's lists. 

This, the Council said, "reflects very positively on our work to intensify both readership and literary production in the local market." 

All shortlisted books will be available for sale at the Malta Book Festival, scheduled to take place between 9 and 13 November at the Mediterranean Conference Centre.

The shortlisted nominees in full: 


NATIONAL BOOK PRIZE 2016

Novels in Maltese and English

Vandalism by Lizzie Eldridge (Merlin Publishers)

Iż-żejt f’qiegħ l-ilma by Martin Bugelli (Kite Group)

Jien, bħalek. Differenti. by Lorraine Galea (Horizons)

Esklussiva Dotcom by Gabriel Schembri (Klabb Kotba Maltin)

Trojan by Alex Vella Gera (Klabb Kotba Maltin)

Short-Stories in Maltese and English

Vespri by Trevor Zahra (Merlin Publishers)

Mhux Bilfors Hekk … by Alex Mizzi (Klabb Kotba Maltin)


Poetry in Maltese and English

Bla qiegħ: poeżija mit-trab 2010-2013 by Joe P. Galea (Horizons)

Klin u kapriċċi oħra by Adrian Grima (Klabb Kotba Maltin)

South of the Kasbah by Norbert Bugeja (Midsea Books Ltd.)

Barefoot in the Saltpans – Poetry Mediterranean by Daniel Massa (Allied Publications)

Kantuniera ‘l bogħod by Nadia Mifsud (Skarta)


Translation

L-Iljieli Għarbin by Edmund Teuma (BDL)

Oscar u s-sinjura roża by Claudine Borg (Faraxa Publishing) – Translation of
‘Oscar et la dame rose’ by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt

Sharon u l-kunjata – Djarji minn Ramallah by Jean Paul Borg (SKS) – Translation of ‘Sharon and My Mother-in-Law : Ramallah Diaries’ by Suad Amiry

Il-Kappillan ta’ Tours by Paul Zahra (Paul Zahra) – Translation of ‘Le Curé de Tours’ by Honoré de Balzac

Il-Pesta tal-1676 by Joseph F. Grima (BDL) – Translation of ‘The Plague of 1676 – 11,300 Deaths’ by Joseph Micallef

Historiographic Research

Slavery – Malta at the Crossroads: Transhipment of Slaves in a British Colony during the Nineteenth Century by Michael Refalo (BDL)

Judge Robert Ganado: A history of the Government Departments from 1815 and lawyers from 1666 by Albert Ganado (BDL)

Caravaggio to Mattia Preti: Baroque Painting in Malta by Keith Sciberras (Midsea Books Ltd.)

The People of the North 1546-1610 by Paul Catania (Midsea Books Ltd.)

The Battle of Lepanto: 7 October 1571 – An Unpublished Hospitaller Account by Paul George Pisani (Salesians of Don Bosco)

Giuseppe Donati and Umberto Calosso: two Italian anti-fascist refugees in Malta by Giorgio Peresso (SKS)

History of Ornithology in Malta by Joe Sultana and John J. Borg (Birdlife Malta)

General Research

Wild Flowers of the Maltese Islands by Edwin Lanfranco and Guido Bonett (BDL)

Antonio Sciortino: the Lost Album by Gerald Bugeja (Kite Group)

Patroloġija: L-Ewwel Volum by Alessandru Bonnici and Salvinu Caruana (ĊAK)

Rivelazzjoni u Profetiżmu fl-Islam by Edmund Teuma (ĊAK)

The Maltese Islands and the Sea by Timmy Gambin (ed.) (Midsea Books Ltd.)

Qiegħda fil-Ponta ta’ Lsieni 2 by Ġużi Gatt (Klabb Kotba Maltin)

Population ageing in Malta: Multidisciplinary Perspectives by Marvin Formosa and

Charles Scerri (Malta University Press)

Aspetti tat-Traduzzjoni Maltija: it-Transfer Kreattiv fit-Traduzzjoni bil-Malti by Charles Briffa (Horizons)

 

TERRAMAXKA BOOK PRIZE 2016

Original Works: Books for Children (Ages 0-7)

Mingu by Clare Azzopardi (Merlin Publishers)

Żuża, iż-żebra l-kurjuża by Mark Zammit (Klabb Kotba Maltin)

In-Naffar li xtaq itir / The Scarecrow who wanted to fly by Rita Saliba (Horizons)


Original Works: Books for Children (Ages 8-12)

Irvin Vella – Investigatur Virtwali: Il-Każ Manduca by John A. Bonello (Merlin Publishers)

Il-Professur Għasfur by Ġorġ Mallia (Merlin Publishers)

L-Avventuri ta’ Tipi by Joan Alison Farrugia (BDL)

L-Għorfa f’tarf l-irdum by Victor Fenech (Horizons)

Original Works: Books for Adolescents (Ages 13-16)

Wiċċ imb wiċċ mal-verità by Carmel G. Cauchi (BDL)

Djamantini by Kulleġġ Santa Klara, Sekondarja Pembroke (Kulleġġ Santa Klara, Sekondarja Pembroke)

Esperjenza Unika, Love by Jacqueline Mizzi (Horizons)

 

Translation: Books for Children (Ages 0-7)

X’Qed Tara? by Rachel Portelli (Merlin Publishers) – Traduzzjoni ta’ ‘Cosa Stai

Guardando?’ by Marica Bersan (illustrated by Claudio Cerri)

Bertu l-bebbuxu supereroj by Clare Azzopardi (Merlin Publishers) – Translation of ‘Berlingot est un superhéros’ by Virginie Hanna (illustrated by Amandine Piu)

Ġakki l-Pirata by Clare Azzopardi (Merlin Publishers) – Translation of ‘Zafo le petit pirate!’ by Virginie Hanna (illustrated by Michel Boucher)

Kamilla tixtieq familja ġdida by Clare Azzopardi (Merlin Publishers) – Translation of ‘Camille veut une nouvelle famille’ by Yann Walcker (illustrated by Mylène Rigaudie)

Lupu Lupettu ma jridx jimxi aktar by Clare Azzopardi (Merlin Publishers) – Translation of ‘Le loup qui ne voulait plus marcher’ by Orianne Lallemand (illustrated by Éléonore Thuillier)

Vjoletta by Loranne Vella (Merlin Publishers) – Translation of ‘Violeta’ by Abril Calero (illustrated by Monsurós)

 

Translation: Books for Children (Ages 8-12)

Il-Leġġenda ta’ San Ġorġ u d-Dragun by Pierre J. Mejlak (Merlin Publishers) – Translation of ‘La llegenda de Sant Jordi i el Drac’ by Laura Vaqué (illustrated by Núria Aparicio)

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