An Australian lady of Maltese origin, Lou Drofenik, has won the National Book Prize for novels in Maltese and English category, with an English novel The Confectioner’s Daughter, published by Horizons.

The 2017 edition of the National Book Prize organized by the National Book Council saw the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed on Victor Fenech.

Immanuel Mifsud won the first prize in poetry with his collection Ħuta, published by Klabb Kotba Maltin. The winner in the category ‘short stories in Maltese and English’ was Alfred Sant with his collection Western – bejn rakkonti bejn divertimenti (SKS, 2016)

The adjudication board comprised Yosanne Vella, Mario Ellul and Godfrey Baldacchino for the category ‘general research’, Andrè Vella Laurenti, Rueben Zammit and Claudine Borg for the categories ‘novels in Maltese and English’, ‘short stories in Maltese and English’ and ‘poetry in Maltese and English’.

Alfred Sant won the short story category.

Novels In Maltese And English
Lou Drofenik: The Confectioner’s Daughter

Short Stories in Maltese and English
Alfred Sant : Western: Bejn Rakkonti, Bejn Divertimenti

Poetry In Maltese And English
Immanuel Mifsud: Ħuta

Works Of Translation
Paul Zahra: Marcel Proust: Għat-Tfittxija Taż-Żmien Mitluf: Mix-Xaqliba Ta’ Dar Swann Combray

General Research
Patrick J. Fenech: The Maltese Village Festa: A Traditional Yearly Ritual

Biographical And Historiographical Research
Joseph Vella Bondin: The Great Maltese Composers: Historical Context, Lives And Works

Best Book Production
Kevin Casha: Photography In Malta: The History And The Protagonists

Best Emerging Author
Roberta Bajada

Lifetime Achievement Award For Contribution To Literature
Victor Fenech