Book review : a persistent contrarian : Pirotta questions the link between rampant materialism and the erosion of values

Abstract

Fortunately, Malta now has its fair share of published biographies and memoirs. Often considered the ‘stepson’ of history, this proliferation of biographies has undoubtedly enriched our historiography and our understanding of Maltese society. However, a cursory look at this output reveals one glaring omission; there is a lacuna of biographies of Maltese intellectuals and academics. This leads to an ancillary problem; the discussion of their ideas, thoughts and legacies often remains unknown beyond academic literature reviews, thus perpetuating the myth of the inaccessible ivory tower. Mario Thomas Vassallo’s book Godfrey Pirotta: Il-Politika ta’ Ħajti attempts to address part of this gap. The beautifully bound book presents the life and thought of one of Malta’sforemost political thinkers, public intellectuals, social activists and public servants who left a mark in a myriad of sectors. [excerpt]