ImmanuelMifsud

1.

Biography

Immanuel Mifsud’s journey into writing was forged from a very young age. In his late teens, he experienced a surge in interest in both reading and writing, with one of his early influences being psychology. This partly explains why in some of his fictional work he delves into the human psyche and its multifaceted nature.

Jump to bibliography

What is striking is that Mifsud did not consciously plan to be a writer. As a young adult, he threw himself headlong mostly into alternative theatre, so the transition to prose was not as straightforward or obvious as one might think. Instead, it is important to understand what has made Immanuel Mifsud the writer he is today, namely an amalgamation of literary interests, historical events, and personal experiences.

Growing up and coming of age in the notorious 1980s, which were turbulent times in Malta, he felt the urge to protest. Initially he thought that he was just another angry young man calling out the State and the Establishment; he would have probably been defined as an enfant terrible. Yet his acts of defiance were registered in a different way. Channelling this need to protest in short stories, his first collection Stejjer ta’ Nies Koroh (Stories of Ugly People, self-published, 1991) established a direct link with the 1980s. He believed that the medium of the short story was the appropriate vehicle to voice his discontent, while he started exploring a growing fascination with Communism in Central Europe.

Despite there being a dearth in fiction dealing with the 80s and 90s locally, trying to make a name for himself in the local literary world brought certain challenges as publishers back then did not have faith in unknown young writers. However, this did not impede Mifsud from persevering and challenging the status quo, whilst observing significant changes and shifts in society in the 1990s, particularly in education and the media. The liberalisation of the latter gave him new foci and vision to consider the concept of how we have become more comfortable with oversharing aspects of our life, what he terms "the confessional society".

Another source of inspiration for Mifsud is the night-time, as his writings are often informed by the circadian rhythms of the night, suggestive of reflection and solitude. It is not surprising that the characters who emerge in these late-night hours and weave their way into his works are misanthropes: marginalised, maladroit individuals.

Wary of the danger of sounding repetitive and falling into dreaded clichés, Mifsud decided to break the mould and move away from the genre he had become synonymous with; namely, the dark underbelly of human nature. Through Fl-isem tal-Missier (u tal-Iben) (In the Name of the Father (and of the Son), Midsea Books, 2010), an autobiographical/biographical work, he explored the tenuous relationship with his father. He felt compelled to focus on this relationship at one point in his life, as though he wanted to come to terms with a hidden guilt complex haunting both father and son. To date, it is one of his most successful works. The gap between what he is drawn to personally and what eventually lures his readers remains mysterious to Mifsud, but as a writer he transmits a nervous energy. Resisting the perception that he might be a voice in the wilderness, what he hopes to achieve essentially through the act of writing and through literature is overcoming barriers and presenting human nature in unconventional ways, by disavowing stereotypes.

Biography written by Stephanie Xerri Agius

2.

Bibliography

Għażiż Ġismi

Poetry
Maltese
Author
Publisher
Klabb Kotba Maltin

"All Roads Lead to Rome"

Poetry
English
Author
Awards
Translator
Ruth WardImmanuel Mifsud
Editor
Khairani Barokka
Publisher
Modern Poetry in Translation

"Il-Ġurnalista: l-istorja ta’ Daphne Caruana Galizia"

Picture book
Maltese
Author
Translator
Immanuel Mifsud
Illustrator
Gattaldo
Publisher
Klabb Kotba Maltin

Qabel il-Klabb

Prose
Maltese
Author
Publisher
Klabb Kotba Maltin

Jien Noti Jien: Ħsejjes u Stejjer

Me-Notes-Me: Sounds and Stories
Prose
Maltese
Author
Awards
Winner of the Malta National Book Prize
Publisher
Klabb Kotba Maltin, Malta

Juta Hajm, një grua e panjohur në Berlin

Prose
Albanian
Author
Translator
Elisa IvanajAlbert Gatt
Publisher
Ombra GVG, Albania

مرّوا من هنا

They passed from here
Poetry
Arabic
Author
Translator
Murad Shubert
Publisher
Bait Elyasmin, Egypt

درت حول الأرض

I travelled the world
Prose
Arabic
Author
Translator
Walid Nabhan
Publisher
Masr El Arabia, Egypt

Necunoscuta din Berlinul de Est

Prose
Romanian
Author
Translator
Ioana VăcărescuAlbert Gatt
Publisher
Nemira, Romania

Madwar Sagħtejn u Nofs 'il Bogħod mill-Ġenna

Around Two and a Half Hours Away from Heaven
Poetry
Maltese
Author
Publisher
Klabb Kotba Maltin, Malta

L-Aqwa Żmien

The Best of Times
Prose
Maltese
Author
Publisher
Klabb Kotba Maltin, Malta

Wara Settembru

After September
Poetry
Slovenian
Editor
Immanuel MifsudPeter Semolič
Publisher
Antologie Vilenice, Slovenia

Jutta Heim

Prose
Slovenian
Author
Translator
Peter SemoličVera PejovičAlbert Gatt
Publisher
Cankarjeva Založba, Slovenia

Daqsxejn ta' Requiem lil Leli

A Modest Requiem for Leli
Poetry
Maltese
English
Author
Translator
Albert Gatt
Publisher
Klabb Kotba Maltin, Malta

Juta Hajm

Prose
Serbian
Author
Translator
Milan DobričićAlbert Gatt
Publisher
Treći Trg, Serbia

جوته هايم

Prose
Arabic
Author
Publisher
Masr el Arabia, Egypt

20 poeżija / 20 poems

in “Transkrit: 08”
Poetry
Author
Translator
Nadia Mifsud
Publisher
Centre Culturel Kulturfabrik, Luxembourg

Ħuta

Fish
Poetry
Maltese
Author
Awards
Winner of the Malta National Book Prize
Publisher
Klabb Kotba Maltin, Malta
Related titles

Riba

Poetry
Slovenian
Author
Translator
Peter SemoličVera PejovičRuth Ward
Publisher
Hiša Poezije, Slovenia

Ψάρι

Psári
Poetry
Greek
Author
Translator
Stergia KavvalouRuth Ward
Publisher
Vakxikon, Greece

Riba

Poetry
Serbian
Author
Translator
Milan DobričićRuth Ward
Publisher
Treći Trg, Serbia

Скопски блуз и други песни од Македонија

Skopje Blues & Other Poems from Macedonia
Poetry
Macedonian
Author
Translator
Elena PrendzovaRuth Ward
Publisher
Academia, North Macedonia

Lampedusa

Author
Translator
Immanuel Mifsud
Director
Herman Grech
Production
Unifaun Theatre

Fid-Dlam tal-Lejl Ħarisna

Into the Dark Night We Looked
Prose
Maltese
Author
Publisher
Klabb Kotba Maltin, Malta

Faith, Hope u Charity

Faith, Hope u Charity
Theatre script
English
Author
Director
Josette Ciappara
Production
Staġun Teatru Malti

Il-Kappillan ta' Malta

The Kappillan of Malta; translation and adaptation
Maltese
Author
Director
Peter Busuttil
Production
Staġun Teatru Malti & Malta International Arts Festival

Jutta Heim

Prose
Author
Awards
Winner of the Malta National Book Prize
Publisher
Klabb Kotba Maltin, Malta

Ħrejjef mill-Polonja

Prose
Maltese
Author
Illustrator
Roxanne Gatt
Publisher
Klaklamin, Malta

Don Juan

Author
Translator
Immanuel Mifsud
Director
Chris Gatt
Production
Valletta International Baroque Festival

Penelopi Tistenna

Penelope Waits
Poetry
Maltese
Author
Awards
Winner of the Malta National Book Prize
Publisher
Klabb Kotba Maltin, Malta
Related titles

Penelopa Čeka

Poetry
Serbian
Author
Translator
Milan DobričićMaria Grech Ganado
Publisher
Treći Trg, Serbia

The Play of Waves

Poetry
English
Author
Translator
Maurice RiordanMaria Grech Ganado
Publisher
Arc Publications, UK

Prgišče Listja

A Handful of Leaves
Poetry
Slovenian
Author
Translator
Peter SemoličVera Pejović
Publisher
IRIU Institute in Ljubljana, Slovenia

Ħrejjef mir-Repubblika Ċeka

Prose
Maltese
Author
Illustrator
Roxanne Gatt
Publisher
Klaklamin, Malta

Ħrejjef mis-Slovakkja

Ħrejjef mis-Slovakkja
Prose
Maltese
Author
Illustrator
Roxanne Gatt
Publisher
Klaklamin, Malta

Oswecim

in “The Auschwitz Poems”
Poetry
Author
Translator
Maria Grech Ganado
Editor
Adam A. Zych
Publisher
Oswecim: Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, Poland

Bateau Noir

Poetry
Maltese
French
Author
Translator
Nadia MifsudCatherine Camilleri
Publisher
Edizzjonijiet Emma Delezio, Malta

Fl-Isem tal-Missier (u tal-Iben)

Prose
Maltese
Author
Awards
Winner of the European Union Prize for Literature
Publisher
Klabb Kotba Maltin, Malta
Related titles

U ime oca (i sina)

Prose
Croatian
Author
Translator
Marko KovačićAlbert Gatt
Publisher
Fraktura, Croatia

باسم الأب والابن

Prose
Arabic
Author
Publisher
Masr el Arabia, Egypt

В името на Отца (и Сина)

Prose
Bulgarian
Author
Translator
Aziz Shakir-Tash
Publisher
Paradox, Bulgaria

In the Name of the Father (and of the Son)

Prose
English
Author
Translator
Albert Gatt
Publisher
Parthian Books, UK

Ve jménu Otce (i Syna)

Prose
Czech
Author
Translator
Barbora LyčkováAlbert Gatt
Publisher
Větrné mlýny, Czech Republic

Në emër të Atit (e të Birit)

Prose
Albanian
Author
Translator
Sadedin LimaniAlbert Gatt
Publisher
Fan Noli, Albania

U ime oca (i sina)

Prose
Serbian
Author
Translator
Igor CvijanovićAlbert Gatt
Publisher
Kontrast, Serbia

Je t'ai vu pleurer

Prose
French
Author
Translator
Nadia Mifsud
Publisher
Gallimard, France

Во името на отецот (и на синот)

Prose
Macedonian
Author
Translator
Vladimir JankovskiAlbert Gatt
Publisher
Goten, Macedonia

În numele Tatălui (și al Fiului)

Prose
Romanian
Author
Translator
Denisa DuranAlbert Gatt
Publisher
Polirom, Romania

Orqod, qalbi, orqod

Picture book
Maltese
Author
Illustrator
Greta Borg Carbott
Publisher
Klaklamin, Malta

Riħ min-Nofsinhar

Wind from the South
Poetry
Maltese
Author
Awards
Winner of the Malta National Book Prize
Publisher
Edizzjoni Skarta, Malta

Stejjer li ma Kellhomx Jinkitbu

Forbidden Tales
Prose
Author
Publisher
Klabb Kotba Maltin, Malta
Related titles

Four days

in "Transcript 38"
Prose
English
Author
Translator
Albert Gatt
Publisher
Transcript, Wales

Tibża' xejn jekk tibda x-xita

Don't be afraid of the rain
Poetry
Maltese
Author
Publisher
Edizzjoni Skarta, Malta

Poland Pictures

Poetry
English
Author
Translator
Maria Grech Ganado
Publisher
Edizzjoni Skarta, Malta

Happy Weekend

Prose
English
Author
Translator
Rosemary CaruanaMary DarmaninAlbert GattMaria Grech Ganado
Publisher
Klabb Kotba Maltin, Malta
Related titles

Fundjavë e lumtur

Prose
Macedonian
Author
Translator
Florija NeziriRosemary CaruanaMary DarmaninAlbert GattMaria Grech Ganado
Publisher
Shkupi, Macedonia

Kimika

Undeniable Chemistry
Prose
Maltese
Author
Publisher
Klabb Kotba Maltin, Malta

Confidential Reports

Poetry
English
Author
Translator
Maurice RiordanAdrian Grima
Publisher
Southword Editions, Ireland
Related titles

Rapoarte confidențiale

Poetry
Romanian
Author
Translator
Denisa Duran
Publisher
Casa de Editură Max Blecher, Romania

km

Poetry
Maltese
English
Author
Translator
Maria Grech Ganado
Publisher
Klabb Kotba Maltin, Malta

Stejjer li Kibru Fl-Art

Stories Growing on the Ground
Prose
Maltese
Author
Illustrator
Greta Borg Carbott
Publisher
Klabb Kotba Maltin, Malta

L-Istejjer Strambi ta' Sara Sue Sammut

Sara Sue Sammut's Strange Stories
Prose
Maltese
Author
Awards
Winner of the Malta National Book Prize
Publisher
Minima Publishers, Malta

Il-Ktieb tar-Riħ u l-Fjuri

The Book of the Wind and Flowers
Poetry
Maltese
Author
Publisher
The Author

Il-Ktieb tal-Maħbubin Midruba

The Book of Maimed Lovers
Prose
Maltese
Author
Publisher
The Author

Fid-Dar ta' Clara

At Clara's
Poetry
Maltese
Author
Publisher
The Author

Il-Ktieb tas-Sibt Filgħaxija

Stories for Saturday Night
Prose
Maltese
Author
Publisher
The Author

Stejjer ta' Nies Koroh

Stories of Ugly People
Prose
Maltese
Author
Publisher
The Author
Supported by

Arts Council Malta

Creative Industries Platform

Project co-ordinator: Clare Azzopardi

With the help of: Kirsty Azzopardi, Leanne Ellul and Albert Gatt

Proofreader: Dwayne Ellul

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