A new book by Evarist Bartolo examines the kaleidoscopic nature of place through myths, stories and overlooked moments in Malta’s incredible 8,500-year-old history. His book, Frak mill-Istorja – ħarsa minn taħt, approaches the islands’ past from the ground up.

Published by Sensiela Kotba Soċjalisti (SKS), the book will be launched on 28th November at 6.30pm at MICAS (Malta International Contemporary Art Space). The public is invited to attend, and historians Emanuel Buttigieg and Liam Gauci will introduce the work. Mr Bartolo will also be present to meet attendees.

In the book, Mr Bartolo looks at history from a ground-up approach, gathering 80 short "frak" reflections through research carried out by historians that shape the islands through the millenna. A vegetable soup that helped resolve a political crisis. A hermit who fled to Comino after being condemned by the Pope to burn at the stake. A monsignor who wanted the Maltese language written in Arabic script. And Christ’s alleged donkey that carried him into Jerusalem, making its way across the Mediterranean and allegedly stopping in Malta on its route to Verona.

Speaking to WhosWho.mt, Mr Bartolo reflects on his project.

“I wrote around 80 different snippets. Through them I tried to tell the very complex narrative that forms our country. We usually tend to simplify the historic narrative of Malta, to say that we became Christian when St Paul came and that we have resisted change ever since. I wanted to go beyond that.”

“I tried to tell the history through micro-stories of people, through the actual, concrete circumstances in which people lived. I am a great believer that it was about time to tell the story of everyday life, of ordinary people. Not the usual glamour of palaces, grandmasters, popes, archbishops, although they are part of our story."

The book will be in Maltese, to cater for audiences that would better access the stories in their mother tongue. 

“I based my writing on deep historical research of the last 60 years in Malta. But most of it, as I understand it, is in English. People who do not read English would not be familiar with it. And so I think for most people, history is still based on legends in simplified form. History is far more complex.”

Speaking about how the project began, Mr Bartolo said he has always been an avid fan of history.

“I have always been interested in history since I was a young boy. Although I did not study it formally and instead studied English and journalism, I always remained attracted to history. I used to spend a lot of time in the Melitensia section at University. And now, since I retired, I can do what I never had the time to do.”

This new publication aims to bring the richness, contradictions and lived realities of Malta’s past to a wider audience, shifting the focus away from myth and simplified narratives and towards the stories that shaped everyday life across thousands of years.