Nicholas Monsarrat is an unjustly neglected author. If you have read any of his novels it will be The Cruel Sea. I hadn’t read anything of his until last weekend.
His dates are 1910 – 1979 and, although he was born in Liverpool, he went to Winchester and Trinity, Cambridge. I enjoyed writing that – bye, bye, readers from Liverpool. In the war he served in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve (RNVR), rising to command a frigate by the end of the war. After the war he combined a career in the Foreign Office with writing novels, often sea stories. He eventually retired and went to live on Gozo. See posts passim about this small island off Malta.
The Kappillan of Malta is a wonderful novel, ostensibly about just six days between June 1940 and August 1942 in Malta. In fact he weaves into his war story the history of the island – and what a rich and interesting story that is. Yet again I was reminded how fortunate England is not to have been invaded properly since 1066.
Malta’s history starts in about 6,000 BC; its megalithic temples are not to be missed should you visit Gozo. But I was really more interested in the waves of more recent conquest: Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Spain. Spain did not place a high price on the island and in 1530 almost gave it away to the Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem – better known as the Knights of Malta today. This ancient order of noble, Catholic knights from all over Europe had been chivied out of Jerusalem, Cyprus and Rhodes by the Ottomans. Malta was a gift from the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, in return for an annual tribute: a Maltese Falcon. I digress but the 1941 film, The Maltese Falcon, is a real, film noir, cracker and I have just ordered Dashiell Hammett’s 1930 novel of the same name, on which the film is based.
The Knights were conquered by Napoleon, and in his turn he relinquished the island to the British. I was captivated by Monsarrat’s story and not just because I’m going to Valletta later this month. Two other threads in this literary tapestry are Catholicism and the role of the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean in WW II. He populates his story with a cross section of the unfortunate population besieged on the island. Perhaps he is too generous to the British and the Royal Navy but that reflects his background.
Interesting remark en passant about nearly 10 centuries of non invasion in England since 1066. Most Europeans countries, including my birth country France, have had occupying foreign boots on their soil many times over the last 10 centuries. In my mind this history explains (partly) why English people have developed such an insular mind for the best, but also sometimes for the worst. May England be free from occupying foreign boots for centuries to come.
Bonne journée
I recently read Max Hastings’ Operation Pedestal about the relief convoy to Malta in 1942 which I enjoyed.
I strongly recommend Ernle Bradford’s history of the Siege of Malta in 1685 by the forces of Suleyman the Magnificent. It is a short, stirring account of one of the greatest sieges in history with the Knights of St. John under their Grand Master Jean de la Vallette mounting an incredible – successful- defence to the overwhelming forces of the Sultan.
Agreed that The Kappillan of Malta is a wonderful novel and an important book to read when visiting Malta.
You are spot on. The books recommended by Richard and Ian and others about Malta in WW II etc are all covered in Monsarrat’s deceptively simple novel.
Lucky you to be going to Malta again. Like many visitors, I enjoyed just wandering around looking at buildings, especially the close-built houses with charming gallarija balconies, the auberges of the various langues of St. John (reminding one that Provence, Aragon, and the Auvergne were once powers in their own right), and the massive military fortifications. All that honey-colored stone lit up with the southern Mediterranean light! I was brought back to earth by a Maltese acquaintance who pointed out the endemic corruption (still) and resulting challenges for daily life. Nonetheless, one keeps it in mind as a path from America to potential EU citizenship post-working life.
I hope you will share more on your upcoming trip via the blog to complement your earlier series from the last.
(And the Liverpool aside had me chuckling)