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Pierre J. Mejlak

ピエール・J・メイラク

Pierre J. Mejlak

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1982-01-01 （Malta）
Nationality
Maltese
Languages
Maltese, English
Residence History
Valletta, Malta → Luxembourg → Brussels, Belgium

Career

Occupations
novelist, short story writer, journalist, screenwriter
Active Years
1996-

Awards

European Union Prize for Literature
2014
Work: Dak li l-Lejl Iħallik Tgħid / Having Said Goodnight
Organization: European Commission
Result: 受賞
Terramaxka Book Prize
2016
Organization: National Book Council (Malta)
Result: 受賞
National Book Awards (Malta)
Organization: National Book Awards (organiser)
Result: 受賞（複数回）
Commonwealth Essay Writing Award
Organization: Commonwealth Foundation
Result: 受賞
Sea of Words European Short Story Award
Organization: IEMed / Sea of Words
Result: 受賞
Malta Journalism Award
Result: 受賞（2回）

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

White Dust

1999 children's short novel

A short novel for children aimed at younger readers.

coming of ageimagination

When the Angels Were Found

2002 children's short novel

A short novel for children sometimes touching on religious and moral themes.

faithadventure

Southern Wind

2007 cross-over novel

A cross-over novel exploring family, migration and personal change.

familymigrationchange
Adaptations
  • [TV drama] Southern Wind (2010)

I'm Waiting for You to Fall with the Rain

2009 short stories (for adults)

A collection of short stories for adults that received critical and popular acclaim.

everyday lifehuman relationships

What the Night Lets You Say

2011 short stories (for adults)

A collection of stories themed around the night, deftly exploring interior life, memory and secrets.

nightmemorysecrets
Translations
  • English edition: Having Said Goodnight
  • Albanian edition (Fan Noli Publishers)
  • Norwegian edition (translated by Kristina Quintano)
  • Polish edition (translated by Krzysztof Szczurek)
  • Turkish edition (published by Kalem)
  • Bulgarian edition (ICU Publishing)

Having Said Goodnight

2014 short stories (English translation)

English translation of 'Dak li l-Lejl Iħallik Tgħid', published and distributed in several European countries.

nighthuman relationships

Bibliography

  • Trab Abjad (White Dust, 1999)
  • Meta Nstabu l-Anġli (When the Angels Were Found, 2002)
  • Riħ Isfel (Southern Wind, 2007)
  • Qed Nistenniek Nieżla max-Xita (I'm Waiting for You to Fall with the Rain, 2009)
  • Dak li l-Lejl Iħallik Tgħid (What the Night Lets You Say, 2011)
  • Having Said Goodnight (2014, English translation)
  • Stejjer mill-Bibbja (2003, adaptations)
  • Enċiklopedija għat-Tfal (2005, adaptations)
  • Il-Ħajja ta' Ġesú' (2009, adaptations)

Adaptations

  • Riħ Isfel (TV adaptation, 13 episodes)
  • Bible stories and children's encyclopedia adaptations

Translations of Works

  • Dak li l-Lejl Iħallik Tgħid translated as Having Said Goodnight (English)
  • Albanian, Norwegian, Polish, Turkish and Bulgarian editions of Having Said Goodnight

Style & Themes

Literary Style
concise, observational prosecarefully structured short fiction
Recurring Motifs
nightmemoryfamilymovement/migration

Legacy

An important contemporary Maltese writer of short fiction and novels. Winner of the EU Prize for Literature and other awards, his work has attracted international attention and been translated into several languages.

Trivia

  • Between 1996 and 2000 he wrote, edited and published his own monthly magazine 'Il-Fwieha tan-Narcisa'.
  • He has worked as a BBC correspondent and as a columnist for Malta's In-Nazzjon.
  • 'Dak li l-Lejl Iħallik Tgħid' won the EU Prize for Literature and has been translated into several languages.
  • The novel 'Riħ Isfel' was adapted into a 13-episode TV drama for Malta's NET TV.