Pierre J.Mejlak

1.

Biography

Pierre J. Mejlak published his first novel, Meta nstabu l-Anġli (Merlin Publishers, 2002) when he was just 20 years of age. Since then, he has gone on to win several awards for his work, but he is mostly known for his two outstanding collections of short stories: Qed nistenniek nieżla max-xita (Merlin Publishers, 2009) and Dak li l-lejl iħallik tgħid (Merlin Publishers, 2011; translated into English as Having Said Goodnight, Merlin Publishers, 2015). For the latter anthology he was also awarded the European Union Prize for Literature in 2014.

Jump to bibliography

Some of Mejlak’s stories hark back to a form that is extremely popular in Maltese story-telling: the praspura. The praspura brings an odd mix of characters, usually children and/or standing members of the community, who indulge in silly and misguided behaviour. However, whereas the repercussions of a conventional praspura are minimal, and do not for the most part stray beyond the boundaries of the village or community where they are set, Mejlak’s characters and stories occupy a much broader canvas. For instance, Mark Delia’s prank on social media in "Kolp ta’ Stat" (Coup d’Etat), following his confused reaction to a romantic break-up, wreaks absolute havoc in the country and has very serious political consequences. This is typical of Mejlak’s stories: a seemingly lighthearted plot turns out to have undertones which are mischievous, or even grim, which surprises the reader.

It is the jarring tension between what is written and what is implied which drives most of Mejlak’s work. His stories cast a long and poignant shadow. This is clearly seen in Riħ Isfel (Merlin Publishers, 2007), a young adult novel set on the island of Gozo during the 1980s. On the surface, Riħ Isfel offers a straightforward thriller revolving around a missing child, set in the village where Mejlak actually grew up. But the juxtaposition of nostalgia with the gritty tale of abduction sets the scene for a coming-of-age tale in which the idyll of childhood is replaced with a harsher understanding of the world. The two worlds co-exist, but one is slowly giving way to the other; and this dynamic is clearly evident in Mejlak’s prose.

Mejlak’s strength lies in holding up a mirror to Maltese idiosyncrasies and exposing a rather dark and unsettling underbelly. Behind every light moment lies an uncomfortable truth; and with every truth there is the potential for a great story.

Biography written by Noel Tanti

2.

Bibliography

Il-Leġġenda ta’ San Ġorġ u d-Dragun

Picture book
Author
Publisher
Merlin Publishers, Malta

Flash Fiction International: Very Short stories from Around the World

Prose
English
Author
Editor
James Thomas Robert Shapard
Publisher
W. W. Norton Company, USA

Dak li l-Lejl Iħallik Tgħid

Having said goodnight
Prose
Maltese
Author
Awards
Winner of the National Book Prize & Winner of the European Prize for Literature
Publisher
Merlin Publishers, Malta
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Izgovoreno Pod Okriljem Noći

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Translator
Vesna Stamenković
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Kar noč dopušča

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Author
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Andrej Pleterski
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Nakon pozdrava za laku noć

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Onu Görmeye Gittim

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Når vi har sagt god natt

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Kristina Quintano
Publisher
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Co pozwala powiedzieć noc

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Krzysztof Szczurek
Publisher
Ksiazkowe Klimaty, Poland

Pasi kam thënë natën e mirë

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Translator
Sadedin Limani
Publisher
Fan Noli, Albania

ноќta te paзубеди

Prose
Macedonian
Author
Translator
Vladimir Jankovski
Publisher
Goten Publishers, North Macedonia

Когато изпратим деня

Prose
Bulgarian
Author
Translator
Nevena Dichlieva-Krysteva
Publisher
ICU, Bulgaria

Having said goodnight

Prose
English
Author
Translator
Clare VassalloAntoine Cassar
Publisher
Merlin Publishers, Malta

Riħ isfel

Southern wind
TV series
Author
Director
Charles Stroud
Production
NET TV

"Mort naraha, pa"

Prose
Maltese
Author
Publisher
Merlin Publishers

Qed Nistenniek Nieżla max-Xita

I'm waiting for you to fall with the rain
Prose
Maltese
Author
Awards
Winner of the National Book Prize
Publisher
Merlin Publishers, Malta
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Yn de bar fan Livia

Prose
Dutch
Author
Translator
André Looijenga
Publisher
Ensafh, Netherlands

At Livia's Bar

from “I'm waiting for you to fall with the rain”
Prose
Author
Translator
Antoine Cassar
Publisher
Words without Borders, USA

Riħ Isfel

Southern wind
Prose
Author
Awards
Winner of the National Book Prize
Publisher
Merlin Publishers, Malta

Meta Nstabu l-Anġli

When the angels were found
Prose
Author
Publisher
Merlin Publishers, Malta

Trab Abjad

White dust
Prose
Author
Publisher
PIN, Malta
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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