Book review: The French occupation of Malta unpacked
The short period of French rule in Malta – or rather the French presence, because they did not rule for long and spent most of their two years here blocked behind the walls – is quite well documented and, controversially, commented and reinterpreted.
But Yosanne Vella’s book brings its own dimension to the narrative, in the form of vignettes that narrate the personal experiences of individuals who are trying to live their lives as normally as they can in the conditions of the time the war
The stories relate to ordinary people, and therefore give us a rare glimpse of ordinary life, far removed from the grand narrative of political and military history. They show us that life was hard, uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous for those who got out of the way of the wartime rules.
One could say that this is normal in wartime, except that there was nothing normal or standard in the war situation of the years 1798-1800.
The stories relate to ordinary people, and therefore give us a rare insight into ordinary life
Strictly speaking, the Maltese were not at war with France.
They had just been occupied, they rose up against that occupation and waited for someone to save them.
For the first time, there was a Maltese government in charge of most of Malta and Maltese citizens were for the first time subject to laws made by Malta.
Vella’s stories make the reader ask the question: did all the Maltese take seriously the laws and regulations made by their almost elected national government, during this unique interlude of independence?
Or did some Maltese consider that the removal of the heavy hand of foreign rule, and the punishments that were in store for those who challenged it, gave them more license? There was here an early affirmation of between us we arrange?
If so, here is another example of the way history tells us about the past in order to explain our present.
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