Ġan Anton Vassallo

Who was Ġan Anton Vassallo?

Ġan Anton Vassallo was a Maltese author, poet and professor. Although he wrote a large amount of literary works, he is best remembered for his poem Tifħira lil Malta.

He was taught by many famous teachers, amongst them Dun Pietru Pawl Psaila and Dun Ġużepp Zammit Brighella. He was fluent in Maltese, Italian, and Latin, as well French, Arabic and understood English. Vassallo started a course of Laws in the University of Malta in 1839, finishing it three years later. In 1850 he began teaching Italian in the Liċeo, becoming Professor of Italian at University in 1863.

He began writing poetry in Maltese when he was 25 years old. he wrote many biographies of Maltese personalities in the magazine Arte, and he published his work on the history of Malta, La Storia di Malta raccontata in Compendio in 1854. This version was rewritten in Maltese as Storja ta’ Malta in 1862. He also wrote numerous religious works, such as Il-ħajja ta’ l-Appostlu Missierna San Pawl, and Ġesù Kristu fid-Dinja. His most remembered works refer to his poems, published in two books, one named Ħrejjef. the other Ħrejjef u Ċajt bil-Malti in 1863. His most famous novel is the epic Il-Ġifen Tork, written in 1842.