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Mark Camilleri’s new book, A Materialist Revision of Maltese History: 870 – 1919, will be launched tonight at the Fortress Builders – Fortifications Interpretation Centre, Valletta, at 7.30pm.

The book is a critical reading of Maltese history influenced by Hegelian philosophy and Marxist materialism. It poses new critical perspectives based on previously unknown historical data. Some interesting primary sources of note, which will be revealed for the first time, include the police logbooks of the early 20th century.

This book’s focus on the mind and material conditions of the ‘ordinary’ citizen offers a fresh look at Maltese history. It is history as it is, without the grand narratives and beautiful anecdotes which make it novel and glorious. The author claims that there is in reality nothing that glorious about Maltese history. On the contrary, Maltese history was sad, dark, tragic and bleak. The Maltese lived in misery, poverty, insularity and ignorance and their survival in terms of wealth and security was dependent on their rulers.

Mr Camilleri holds that the Maltese elite were only concerned with making easy profits rather than with contributing to the overall development of society and the well-being of its compatriots, while clerics left the people mired in ignorance and stupidity so as to keep absolute control over the Maltese mind.

Mr Camilleri has a Masters in history from the University of Malta and is currently working on a PhD about the concept of the end of history. He has written other books on Maltese history and also co-authored an anti-censorship Bill with Andrew Sciberras. He is the executive chairman of the National Book Council and occasionally writes for the press.

The book launch is being organised by Sensiela Kotba Soċjalisti (SKS) and is open to the public.

For more information, visit www.markcamilleri.org.