President presides launching of collection of short stories

His Excellency Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici presided over the launching of Frans Sammut's collection of short stories Newbiet in Gallerija StradaStretta, Valletta.

The musico-literary evening, organized by the Æaqda tal-Malti(Universita`) included papers by well-known critics Prof Oliver Friggieri, Bernard Micallef and Rev Prof Peter Serracino Inglott, short stories read by Charles Abela Mizzi, Charles Arrigo and Karmen Azzopardi, and pieces played by the Johann Strauss School of Music. The evening was presented by actress Stephanie Farrugia.

Newbiet is a collection of short stories Frans Sammut wrote between 1965 and 1994. They were described by Prof Peter Serracino Inglott as characterized by a "neo illuminist" style, introduced into Maltese and developed to a high literary level by Frans Sammut. Prof Oliver Friggieri saluted the author both as a personal friend from the days of the Moviment Qawmien Letterarju of the Sixties and as a leading novelist. Bernard Micallef talked highly of Sammut's contribution to Maltese literature.

Frans Sammut whose short stories first appeared in 1963 is currently Secretary to the Akkademja tal-Malti and has a number of prize-winning novels to his name.