Manwel Nicholas-Borg

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Manwel Nicholas-Borg (1918-1998) was a Maltese author and poet in Melbourne, Australia.

For sheer productivity it is hard to beat Manwel Nicholas-Borg. He has been the most prolific writer mostly of poetry but also of a considerable amount of prose, including, essays, history, and novels, much of which he published privately and read at the Maltese Literature Group and other literature meetings. He began writing in 1938 and never stopped until his death on 30th May, 1998.

Early life and migration

Manwel was born on 11 January 1918 in Sliema and was educated at the Stella Maris College. While in Malta, he was employed as a compositor with Il-Berqa, a daily newspaper in Maltese, and later on he was on the editorial staff of The Times, the English language paper from the same stable. He served as a sergeant with the special investigation branch of the Royal Air Force during the war (from 1942) and saw service in Italy, Egypt, Palestine and Syria.

He left for Australia on the mv Asturias and arrived in Melbourne in December 1949, aged 31 years. He continued his education at the College of Printing and Graphic Arts and worked as a clerk in the Research and Development Branch of the Department of Supply in Melbourne from 1949 to 1956, and later on as lithographic designer, head proof-reader, and electronic monotype keyboard operator with the Victorian Railways Printing Works, from where he retired in 1978.

Manwel was naturalized in 1975, which he proudly says was his “second finest hour” – his first was to be born Maltese.

Literary works

The thousands of poems that he wrote deal mainly with three major topics: the land of his birth, religion, and his love for his mother. He said that his inspiration came from “elements of fascination with the Muses and the written word, which emanate from the impression imprinted upon me by the world and events around me”. His poetry is traditional in style, and includes sonnets and poems which follow the acrostic and Sapphic styles.

Nicholas Borg was Vice-President of the Literary Society for the Maltese in Australia from 1959 to 1967 and was later a member of the Maltese Literature Group of Victoria, as well as a member of the Multicultural Writers' Association of Victoria. He was made an honorary member of the Akkademja tal-Malti (Maltese Academy of Malta) in 1970.

In addition to the following publications, Manwel Nicholas-Borg’s writings have been included in a number of anthologies, including: Il-Muża Maltija, (1969), Driegħ ma’ Driegħ (1971), Irjieħ, (1986), and Frott Ieħor (1992). He has also written historical writings, as well as essays published in Il-Ponostku Malti (1960-1970).

  • Ċesri u d-Demokrazija Rumana (1939);
  • Ma' Ġesu fl-Aħħar Jum ta' Ħajtu 1964);
  • L-Għanja Maltija fl-Awstralja (1969);
  • Kantiċi fuq il-Ħajja tal-Madonna (1971);
  • Dawl fid-Dlam (1975);
  • Mill-Oqsma ta' I-Awstral (1979);
  • Mill-Librerija ta' Ħajti (1981);
  • A Descriptive Rosary (1983);
  • Soiree Lyrique (1983);
  • Titwila lejn il-Ħajja ta' l-Alfabett (1987);
  • Titwila lejn it-twelid tal-Kattoliċismu fl-Awstralja (1988);
  • Mill-Ġonna tal-Muża (1989);
  • A Study of the Cross as an Heraldic Emblem (1989);
  • Festival (1989);
  • Titwila lejn il-Ħajja tal-Kalendarju (1990),
  • Għana tal-Qalb (1990);
  • Alternattivi (1991);
  • Bil-Kajku u t-Tanka mill-Awstralja (1991);
  • Territorji Poetiċi (1992);
  • Mill-Kurrenti ta' l-Awstralja, (1992);
  • Blanzuni tac-Ċirasa – Hajku, 1993;
  • Ma’ Ġesu fl-Aħħar jum ta’ Hajtu (1993, 2nd edition, 1st edi 1964) – long poem);
  • Gala Lirika ( 1994);
  • Imrieżaq Imżewqa (1995);
  • Taħt Żewg Slaleb (1995);
  • Kurrenti Kronografiċi (1996);
  • Inspired moments ( 1996);
  • Xbihat ta’ Żmieni (1997);
  • Burdati Liriċi (1998);
  • Qed Ngħix (MLG, ed M Cassar, J Saliba u Rose Lofaro, 2001).

Awards and recognitions

In 1994 Manwel Nicholas-Borg was awarded the Manoel de Vilhena Award for his 'outstanding contribution to the propagation of Maltese Arts and Culture in Australia'.

Sources

  • Barry York, Community Profiles, The Maltese Herald, 10 May 1988
  • Maltese Biographies of the Twentieth Century, 1997, editors Michael J. Schiavone and Louis J.