Versions and Diversions

This is the third book in Giovanni Bonello's successful series Histories of Malta.  Packed with twenty-two articles, Dr Bonello takes us back to prehistoric times, paints more pictures of Malta in the time of the knights, discusses the origin of the Maltese flag and describes Alexander Ball – and these are just a few. The tales he tells are immensely enjoyable, interesting, exciting and informative, as he delves into the life, the times and the customs of the people that have made Maltese history.

Giovanni Bonello is a Judge of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. He writes extensively on human rights, art and history and is a frequent contributor to Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti's Treasures of Malta.

CONTENTS

• Prehistoric Discoveries in Maltese Private Collections (p.9)
• More on the Origin of the Maltese Flag (p.15)
• Knights and Courtesans (p.20)
• Sir Oliver Starkey, Paragon and Victim (p.42)
• Early Russians and Malta (p.54)
• The Maltese Carpenters’ Guild of 1632 (p.60)
• Duelling in Malta (p.69)
• A Revival of the Sacra Infermeria (p.88)
• For a History of Furniture in Malta at the Time of the Knights (p.95)
• The Murder of El Greco’s Knight of Malta (p.115)
• An Overlooked Eyewitness’s Account of the Great Siege (p.123)
• Forgers and Counterfeiters at the Time of the Knights (p.135)
• Knights and Jews – A Tormented Affaire (p.146)
• The Grand Masters’ Palace in the Making (p.164)
• The Contradictions of Roberto Costaguti (p.192)
• Maltese in Spain during the Napoleonic Age (p.200)
• Alexander Ball, Knight of Malta (p.212)
• Humour and Satire in Old Malta Cards (p.221)
• Godfrey Wettinger, Demister and Demystifier (p.229)
• From the Cores of Floriana (p.233)
• A Judge for All Seasons (p.237)
• Pilgrims, Knights, Scholars and Sceptics at St. Paul’s Grotto (p.239)
• Provenance (p.245)
• Index (p.249)