Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/490723
VI This Week maltatoday, Sunday, 5 april 2015 Pierre Mejlak's award-winning collection gets English translation Each of his literary outings has been a huge hit, both with critics but also – especially – with readers who even when not fans of Maltese literature f locked to his inimitable style of evocative, sensual and haunting writing. Pierre J. Me- jlak is possibly one of the most unique writers on the contem- porary Maltese scene. His 2011 success Dak li l-lejl iħallik tgħid went on to win Malta's National Book Award, and last year received the highest European honour for a work of literature: the European Union Prize for Lit- erature, only the second time this prestigious prize has been awarded to a Maltese author. And now, to make this oeu- vre available to a much wider audience, Merlin Publishers have just released the book in English translation. Hav- ing said goodnight has been translated by Antoine Cassar and Clare Vassallo. It contains all the short stories of the original, together with a sur- prise for all Mejlak fans: three previously unpublished stories: The ironing board, The crow and The parrot's cry. In trademark Mejlak style, the stories move between past and future, centre and periphery, real and imaginary. A woman is overjoyed at the news her husband has been found dead. A crow breaks into a young couple's f lat, smashing perceptions and assumptions, and a dying father sends his son on a journey to meet an old f lame. A young boy builds friendships with burnt match- sticks and a widow makes her husband 's manuscript her own. The rights to Having said goodnight have been bought by publishers in various European countries, where translations of the book will be published in 2016. And, truly making this one of the most international of Mal- tese books ever, Having said goodnight is being launched at Waterstones in Brussels, on World Book Day, as well as being celebrated at a dedicated event in London. Meanwhile, the Department of Translation Studies within the Faculty of Arts of the University of Malta is hosting Mejlak and celebrat- ing the English translation of his work during an event on campus. In the words of the jury of the European Union Prize for Literature: "This is a book about storytelling, not only as a form of pleasure that is shared between writer and reader but more importantly as a gift that's given with love and needs love to be appreci- ated." Having said goodnight is available from all bookshops, and online directly from www.merlinpublishers.com Mastru Gerfex stumbles back onto the shelves Dak l-Imbierek Mastru Gerfex, the third book of the popular series about this amiable character, is again available for sale after some years of be- ing out of print. Mastru Gerfex, created by Carmel G. Cauchi, is one of the most-loved characters amongst young readers across multiple genera- tions. Due to popular de- mand Merlin Publishers have now re-published this book. Teodoru Camenzuli, better known as Mastru Gerfex, is a pensioner who lives in Ħal Busbies with his wife Lugrezja and his dog Ferfex. Prior to retiring he was the headmaster of a small school in a nearby vil- lage. His pranks and "adventures" started when he turned 60 and retired from work. No wonder he earned himself the nickname Mastru Gerfex. And yet all the stories and pranks he finds him- self involved in, are not always his fault; it is as if these follow him around and often it is others who get him into trouble. All the stories that Mastru Gerfex has been up to throughout his life have been brought together in a series of four books which have remained popular throughout the years. The other titles in the series are Il-Praspar ta' Mastru Gerfex, F'Ħal Busbies ma' Mastru Gerfex, and Kif Jaħsibhom Mastru Gerfex. In Dak l-Imbierek Mastru Gerfex, we meet this generous, good-hearted old man, loved by everybody in Ħal Busbies. Well ok, maybe not quite everybody, since some of the other characters of the book – Sergeant Sacco, Mr Gilard and Kaspru – do not like Mastru Gerfex at all, and never miss up on an opportunit y to play some practical joke on him or get him into trouble or embarrassment. Carmel G. Cauchi is one of the most popular Maltese authors especially among children for the characters he created over the years, as well as for his f lowing and impeccable writing. Cauchi is a master at setting a scene and tell- ing stories, which enables his readers to empathise with the protagonists. Cauchi is also known for his other literary charac- ters for children such as Betta Trombetta and Pietru Pitravu. Illustrator Frank Schembri has brought these characters and stories to life with his ever-fresh illustra- tions. The books in the Mastru Gerfex series, as well as all the other books by Carmel G. Cauchi, are available for sale from all leading bookshops or directly from Merlin Publishers' website: http://www. merlinpublishers.com Palestinian author heads to Malta for book launch SKS to publish Maltese translation of Suad amiry's Sharon and my Mother in law Palestinian author and architect- academic Suad Amiry is visiting Malta this month for the launch of the Maltese version of her best-selling book Sharon and my Mother-In-Law (2004), translated into Maltese by Jean Paul Borg under the title Sharon u l-Kunjata and published by SKS Publishers. The Ramallah-based author had a runaway success with her book of chronicles in occupied Ramallah and other Arab cities. Employing a sharp and witty style, Amiry, who graduated from universities in the United States and Edinburgh, details life, often emotionally charged, in the West Bank. She describes episodes both tragic and humorous and the bizarre is never far off Amiry's target. She can find therapeutic relief in the cynical attitudes with which she con- fronts the Israeli occupiers as well as in ridiculous instances, like when she visits the kitsch market and concludes how 'vulgar" Palestine has become. This flippant attitude contrasts sharply with Amiry's sense of historical aesthetics, as she leads a small group of volunteers in their attempts at recapturing the beauty of Palestine's rural architectural herit- age. The Ramallah Diaries (under the general title of Sharon and my Moth- er-In-Law) has been translated into twenty languages and was awarded the prestigious Viareggio and Ninino Prizes in Italy. Suad Amiry will be giving first hand information on the book, which will be launched at St James Cavalier Val- letta on April 24 Culture Commissioner Tibor Navracsics presenting Pierre Mejlak with the EU Prize for Literature in Brussels. Photo by Maxime Dendraen