The Malta Independent on Sunday
Discussion about Obscenity & The Arts
Today, the last day of the Book Festival, Dr Paul Xuereb and myself have been invited to share our recollections of the author Anthony Burgess (of Clockwork Orange fame). An interview of mine in the Sunday Times of Malta led to his giving a talk on Obscenity & The Arts at the University of Malta back in 1970 under the auspices of The Malta Library Association . Dr Xuereb was then University Librarian and led The Censorship Reform Group.
Last year was the centenary of Anthony Burgess’s birth and the International Anthony Burgess Foundation head, Prof. Andrew Biswell who is also the biographer of Anthony Burgess, came to Malta where a number of events were held to commemorate this centenary.
The Burgess Foundation has now published Obscenity & the Arts in which Burgess’s talk in Malta is included as is my interview in the STOM of 1970 which led to it. Prof. Biswell who is co-editor of the book contributes an essay on the context of Obscenity & The Arts. The other co-editor is Germaine Greer who also contributes an essay: Dirty Books & Laughing Stock. There are other interesting chapters in the book including several photos of the Burgesses taken in Malta and an essay by Anthony Burgess himself, about his Malta experience. The book is on sale at the Book Festival.
(Dr Xuereb and myself will be at the Sacra Infermeria Activity Centre at 6.30pm. tonight and would be happy to share our recollections and maybe even answer questions.) mbenoit@independent.com.mt