Maltese writer Immanuel Mifsud was one of 12 European authors who was awarded the 2011 EU Prize for Literature (EUPL) during a gala ceremony held at Le Plaza Hotel, Brussels last month.

This is the only award that manifests the full richness of Europe’s creativity

During the special event, Mifsud read a short excerpt in Maltese of his winning book Fl-Isem tal-Missier (u tal-Iben) and was afterwards presented with the award trophy jointly by Polish Culture Minister Bogdan Zdrojewski and Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco.

Among the dignitaries who attended the ceremony were Androulla Vassiliou, Commissioner for Culture, Education, Multilingualism and Youth; John Dalli, Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, and Doris Pack, chair of the European Parliament’s Culture and Education Committee, in the presence of Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands, together with other public figures hailing from the cultural, literary and political fields.

In her opening speech, Ms Vassilioustressed that the EUPL was unique in that it was the only award that manifested the full richness of Europe’s literary diversity and creativity. She also congratulated the 12 winners, saying they deserved all the success to encounter as many readers as possible through their writing.

The EUPL is a joint venture by the European Commission, the European Booksellers’ Federation, the European Writers’ Council and the Federation of European Publishers.

In the meantime, Midsea Books, an imprint of Klabb Kotba Maltin, has published anEnglish translation by Albert Gatt of Mifsud’s award winning book, which is on sale atleading bookshops.

Literary critic Adrian Grima has hailed In the Name of the Father (and of the Son) as a first in Maltese literature and an extraordinary feat.

The award ceremony can be viewed at www.euprizeliterature.eu.