Aleks Farrugia

Aleks Farrugia is a Maltese author, historian, journalist, and cultural administrator whose work spans fiction, history, theatre, and literary criticism. Born in 1978, he first came to public attention with the play Iħirsa fil-Mera, published in 1997 and commended in the Francis Ebejer Playwriting Competition. A graduate in philosophy, history, and theatre, Farrugia has combined his literary career with academic research, journalism, and public service, contributing to the promotion of Malta’s cultural heritage through both his writing and his professional roles.

Farrugia is the author of the novels Grasshopper (2016), Camerata! (2021), and Ir-Re Borg (2022), as well as the award-winning short story collection Għall-Glorja tal-Patrija! (2019), which received the National Book Prize in 2020. The collection was translated into English as Capricious Tales From Malta: A History in the Making (2023), introducing international readers to imaginative stories inspired by Malta’s history, folklore, and national identity. His fiction combines historical imagination, satire, and psychological insight, exploring themes of identity, politics, memory, and the human condition. Farrugia has also contributed scholarly research to publications such as Proceedings of History Week 2011, reflecting his enduring interest in Maltese history and historiography.

Alongside his literary achievements, Aleks Farrugia has remained active in cultural life as a speaker, lecturer, and participant in international literary festivals. His works have been shortlisted for major literary awards, while Ir-Re Borg was selected as Malta’s finalist for the European Union Prize for Literature. Through his novels, short stories, dramatic works, and historical studies, Farrugia has established himself as one of the leading contemporary voices in Maltese literature, combining literary creativity with a deep engagement with the history and culture of the Maltese Islands.