A vivid exposition of the islets

Allow me to congratulate Progress Press, publishers of the attractive, highly interesting book "The Islets of Comino, Filfla, Hagret il-General and the Volcanic Isle that Was" and the author, Charles Boffa.

I have known the author since boyhood and he has had a lifetime keen interest in this subject. As young men we used to occasionally visit the islets in small boats. The sea fascinated us.

Helped by some friends, Dr Boffa carried out a lot of research and field work. This account of 172 pages spread out in 17 chapters, with a wide spectrum of themes, is essentially a vivid exposition of facets of the islets and touches on the making of the islets in very ancient times; early man and aspects of paleontology, life and bones, the present landscape and points of interest, sea and marine life, fauna and flora, various events, etc. The emphasis is on history and the human element permeates throughout.

No less interesting are the studies about Hagret il-General - an islet with past medical links - and the other about the volcanic one which emerged in 1831, following extensive eruptions from a submarine volcano, towards the north-west between Malta and Sicily.

The book's historical and educational merits are obvious.