Authors join forces in new, suspenseful novel
A brilliant work both in style and combination of literary talent
Il-Maximus
by Alfred Massa and Lana Ellul Pirotta
published by Horizons Publications, 2025
Not very long ago, and sporadically even these days, local poets often got together and published their poems as a group. I nostalgically remember my first go in Qawsalla ’72 (1972), with poets Alfred Massa, John Sciberras and Maurice Vella Borg, primarily to share the expenses of publication, rather than simply to gain forces in twos, threes, fours and more. To tell the truth, I don’t remember a similar thing as regards novels. But there is always a first thing in everything!
Massa, one of the most prolific authors of the Maltese novel, has embarked on this novelty by joining Lana Ellul Pirotta in a gripping novel: Il-Maximus, a story with an ending in itself new in style and sheer suspense. This is Ellul Pirotta’s first attempt as a novelist, and Massa, fully aware of her mettle as a writer, duly shared with her his long experiences in this sort of literature to ultimately obtain the desired results, in a thick book of over 300 pages. And what a story!
Both Massa and Ellul Pirotta have managed something new and refreshing in this brilliant novel
Maximus is Stefan, middle-aged, a government employee, married to Veronika, with two children: Marika and Alex. Veronika is insanely jealous of her husband... and maybe rightfully so! And she is resolved to hit back at him. The children themselves suffer the ensuing consequences in the prejudiced hands of society. The ongoing drama provides moments of ironic humour, emotional pain and lots of surprises. And who was the woman in red?
Here, both Massa and Ellul Pirotta have managed something new and refreshing in this brilliant novel, both in style and combination of literary talent and, surely enough, this new attempt, this catalyst, with regard to the new way that the local novel can be approached, will be very well-received and welcomed.