Alfred Sant’s ‘Snow on Comino’ hits English market as reading habits dwindle

Alfred Sant’s 780-page novel ‘Snow on Comino’ has been translated into English half a century after it was written. The former Prime Minister is not optimistic about its commercial prospects.

The book, originally titled ‘Silġ fuq Kemmuna’, was written between 1970 and 1973 and first published in 1982. It is considered a milestone in modern Maltese narrative. The English edition was launched at the National Library with music by artist Kersten Graham.

The novel is set in early 1970s Malta, a period of profound social and cultural change. It follows a group of young people trying to understand their ambitions, relationships and identity amid uncertainty. The title uses the impossible image of snow on Comino to reflect the emotional and cultural distance felt by the characters.

Sant acknowledged the difficulty of translating such a lengthy work. He said he is sorry about the decline in reading but understands why, because the environment has changed and people act according to the environment they find themselves in. He noted that reading may be making a comeback in certain parts of the United States.

For Malta’s small publishing market, the release of a 780-page literary novel in English is a bet on a shrinking audience. The author himself accepts the reality: you cannot go against the course of time.

The translation gives the work a chance to reach readers beyond Malta’s shores. But in a world where attention spans are shorter, the question is how many will turn the first page.