Early Esperanto movement in Malta (1) : Dr Gustav Busuttil - the pioneer

Abstract

The history of the Esperanto movement in Malta almost coincides with the international one. In Mr Levanzin's speech at the Teatro Vittoria, in 1906, we read: "II nostro movimento e coetaneo a queilo della stessa Inghilterra e a quello dell'Italia e di diverse grandi nazioni" (Our movement is contemporary with that of England, Italy and various other great nations). One of the testimonies in this regard is the first Esperanto work ever written in Malta which dates back as early as 1901. I mean the short poem Penso Printempa, written by our national poet Dun Karm. ft is a pity that, up to now at least, we know nothing about how and when Dun Karm learned Esperanto.