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George N. Cassar: Żmien il-Ħsad – Damma ta’ Kitbiet Imżewqa (second edition), Malta, 2011. 160pp.
George Cassar, my Fifth Form teacher of Maltese at the Lyceum in Gozo, was very meticulous in teaching the grammatical rules, something which I am proud to have picked up and practised in my teaching years in primary and secondary schools and at the University of Malta Junior College. And that is why – like me – he found it difficult to accept the ‘new’ decisions taken by the National Council for Maltese.
Cassar’s writings are an exercise in excellent and impeccable Maltese, peppered with idioms and proverbs- Joe Zammit Ciantar
The second edition of his Żmien il-Ħsad – Damma ta’ Kitbiet Imżewqa differs from the first, which he himself had published in 2009, in that he has included more essays, left out the short contributions in English on Gozo, and included his Maltese translation of Luigi Pirandello’s La Giara.
Cassar is an essayist and a very good one indeed. In his introduction to the first collection of these expressive, edifying, and ‘colourful’ essays, he related how he had first started writing this genre of literature in English for The Malta Year Book. Gozitan poet Ġorġ Pisani then commissioned him to write essays in Maltese for the weekly Rediffusion programme Nofs Siegħa għal Għawdex (Gozo half-hour).
Cassar’s contributions then continued with editorials for the new (in 1957) monthly Leħen il-Belt Victoria and more essays for the Gozo Diocese monthly, Il-Ħajja f’Għawdex, soon after he retired. Eventually, he was encouraged to publish these excellent essays in book form.
Cassar grouped the 45 essays in this edition in five chapters, according to their themes. The 10 in chapter one are of general interest. Chapter two consists of six letters addressed to his nephew; they are a wise father’s counsels to both his nephew and young adults. The seven essays gathered in chapter three are very enlightening recollections about various human emotions.
I have known Cassar’s family since my childhood. The children were brought up as good Catholics by upright and hard-working parents who ran a small grocery shop in Vajrinġa Street, Victoria. Besides, his general education, attendance at the Salesian Oratory, and his career as a dedicated teacher (and later head of Gozo’s Sixth Form) helped him build a strong and exemplary character.
His essays are the fruit of a deeply religious life and his endeavour to pass on guidelines for an exemplary way of life to his readers.
The same may be said of his essays in chapter four, however, with more reflections and advice on civility in youth and the family, and in every citizen.
Cassar’s last essays appear in chapter five. They too are of general interest and deal with various topics including an essay on nicknames still current in Gozo.
His translation of La Giara (The pitcher) is excitingly written, with the use of some almost archaic Maltese words and that is why, perhaps, the use of the only English loanword (rivits) sounds a little awkward; mrabat may have been used instead, giving the narrative a smooth content, and rendering the story almost an original version by Cassar.
Cassar’s essays are sometimes humorous; as he stated in the introduction, “nipprova nroxx... doża ċkejkna ta’ umoriżmu” (I try to sprinkle ... a little humour).
Cassar’s writings are an exercise in excellent and impeccable Maltese, peppered with idioms and proverbs some of which used particularly in Gozo. These essays make interesting reading, especially for those in search of a few moments of relaxation while, at times, perhaps also arguing with Cassar’s knowledgeable opinions and conclusions.