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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 8 NOVEMBER 2020 4 BOOKS THE Labour Party passed through 20 eventful years be- tween 1940 and 1960 as it be- came a significant force in Mal- tese politics. Born in 1920 as a response to social inequality at the time, it was after the end of the Second World War that the party reg- istered significant electoral vic- tories that enabled it to enact important social changes. But the period was also char- acterised by the split, which saw a young Dom Mintoff take over the party reins, pushing then leader Paul Boffa out. That period has now been documented in the second volume of the book L-Istorja tal-Partit Laburista by Francis Galea, published by SKS Pub- lishers. The volume covers the years 1940-1960 and covers events that were in the public domain and others that happened be- hind the scenes. From the integration referen- dum to the Break-with-Britain resolution, the book provides an overview of a defining pe- riod in Malta's history as the country gradually steered to- wards independence from Britain. Galea's second volume com- memorates the 100th anniver- sary of the party's establish- ment. The volume, containing 809-pages, most of them with photos and relevant docu- ments, is fully researched and referenced. The first volume, covering 1920−1940, had been published three years ago. Other volumes dealing with the party's history after 1960 will be released in due course. L-Istorja tal-Partit Laburista, volume two, will be available from SKS Publishers that are participating in the virtual edi- tion of the Malta Book Festival between the 11 and 15 Novem- ber. It is also on sale as from ma- jor bookshops and from the Labour National Centre at Ħamrun. 20 years that made the Labour Party and changed the course of Maltese history Paul Boffa became prime minister in 1947 after leading the Labour Party to its first electoral victory The fiery Dom Mintoff addresses crowds at the Zejtun Primary during the Integration Referendum Campaign