Appreciation: Arthur Gruppetta

Arthur Gruppetta was one of the principal pillars of children’s literature in Malta. Through his work he shaped the way in which generations of Maltese children learnt to read and to imagine in their own language.

His life was marked by an unwavering faith in the Maltese book and by a quiet generosity which, for more than half a century, supported Maltese stories, authors and readers. His loss, at the age of 81, leaves us all culturally orphaned, yet enriched by the legacy he placed in our hands.

Born in Valletta in 1944, Arthur Gruppetta began his career as a teacher. When he took over Merlin Library – a small bookshop founded by his parents in 1963 – he nurtured both the practical sense needed to run a business, and his conviction, as an educator, that a good book can change a person’s life.

A trip to London in the 1960s introduced him to Ladybird books, and by 1966 he was importing them into Malta, giving families access to books that were both appealing and affordable. After securing the rights to produce Maltese language editions of Ladybird titles, he poured his energy into realising his vision of publishing original children’s books in Maltese.

In 1971 he proudly published Fra Mudest, by Charles Casha, and from then onwards he continued to modernise and transform the way children experienced reading in their mother tongue.

Under his gentle guidance, Merlin became the cradle of some of Malta’s most beloved authors, including Trevor Żahra, Clare Azzopardi and many others.

For them, Gruppetta was not only a publisher but a friend and a firm shoulder in their literary journey.

Gruppetta never saw publishing as merely a business. He understood that his work could be a powerful educational tool and a means to advance the Maltese language.

He was the first to publish Maltese primary-school workbooks and, through collaborations with foreign publishers, brought numerous translations of international children’s titles to local shelves.

Over time, Gruppetta transformed Merlin from a small bookshop into one of Malta’s most influential publishing houses, Merlin Publishers.

His contribution was widely recognised, and in 2018 he was honoured with the Medal for Service to the Republic.

Yet beyond the titles and accolades lie the testimonies that reveal the man behind the books: the gentle bookseller who listened patiently, offered advice, and sometimes slipped extra books into a child’s bag, or gave books for free to families in need. He did this discreetly, without fanfare – yet, upon his passing, tributes and displays of love and respect poured in from all directions.

Thanks to Arthur Gruppetta, generations of readers grew up never needing to ask whether Maltese could carry beautiful, modern, engaging stories. Every time a child opens a Maltese book, or a prospective author opens a blank document, they know someone believes in them. The echo of that belief leads back to the man who, quietly and with a smile, placed the Maltese book in everyone’s hands.