The Maltese literary scene continues to expand internationally with the publication of Stanza Azzurra – Inventario, the Italian translation of L-Inventarju tal-Kamra l-Kaħla by Leanne Ellul. The translation was carried out by Virginia Monteforte, with editing by Valerio Cruciani. The book was published by Capire Edizioni under the curation of Renzo Casadei and Davide Rondoni.

Originally published in Maltese by Merlin Publishers, L-Inventarju tal-Kamra l-Kaħla is a collection of around 85 poems that explores themes of love, loss, and the sea. Ellul’s writing is known for its experimental nature, while also bringing intimacy and vulnerability to the forefront. The book takes the form of an inventory, listing not only objects but also emotions, colors, and even prepositions that might be found in this symbolic blue room. The Italian translation, which reads beautifully and naturally, allows these themes to reach a wider audience, introducing more readers to contemporary Maltese literature. The Italian edition is available for purchase online and in well-known bookstores across Italy.

Poems from Stanza Azzurra have already gained recognition in Italy. In 2021, a selection from the collection reached the semifinals of the Premio Internazionale Rainer Maria Rilke, and in 2023, another selection was named runner-up for the same prize. Beyond Italian, poems from the original Maltese collection have been translated — and some also published — in English, Arabic, and Greek. Leanne Ellul stated that she believes every translation, whether to or from a language, allows that language to grow in new directions. She emphasised that while book sales are not the measure of success, even the smallest contribution plays a role in shaping and expanding the Maltese literary landscape abroad.

This is not the first time Virginia Monteforte has translated Leanne Ellul’s work. When interviewed, she claimed that: “I loved the way Leanne plays with words and contexts since I translated Noé u l-Iskojjatlu bla Kwiet, how she manages to combine different worlds and images with what Calvino would have called a ‘thoughtful lightness’. Her poems were an intriguing challenge, a labyrinth of multiple impressions, feelings and sensations in the space of a room which often becomes a deep blue sea”. 

With the support of the National Book Council, Noé u l-Iskojjatlu bla Kwiet — originally written in Maltese by Leanne Ellul and Stephanie Bugeja and published by Merlin Publishers — was translated into Italian as Noè e lo scoiattolo giocherellone and published by Verbavolant Edizioni in 2022.

Leanne Ellul is a poet and writer from Malta, known for her work in poetry, fiction, and children’s literature. Over the years, she has received several literary awards and remains dedicated to the Maltese language and its development. Virginia Monteforte, a translator, writer and anthropologist, has built her career around fostering connections between cultures through literature, making Maltese works more accessible to international audiences.

The full collection of poems, published in 2025, was supported by the National Book Council’s Book Fund, which plays a crucial role in promoting Maltese literary works beyond local shores. Thanks to this initiative, Stanza Azzurra can now engage with new readers and contribute to the growing appreciation of Maltese poetry on an international scale.