A brief survey of the history of the Maltese traditional novel

Abstract

The historical novel, based on a subjective compromise between objective data and a personal disposition to recreate them according to one's political commitment, flourished most during the Italian Risorgimento. In recalling the heroic achievements of past generations, the novelist sought to revitalise forgotten myths and give dignity to the contemporary national cause. The idealised depiction of remote historical experiences is emotionally transformed into a vision where past and present are projected towards an immediate future. The objective representation of facts, characters and environments is simply a pretext for rendering history an epic in which the martyrdom of the individual and the national family is the only valid contribution. [excerpt]