Local
Author Mikiel "Kilin" Spiteri passes away
By MaltaMedia News
Jul 9, 2008 - 12:13:29 PM

Well known author Mikiel Spiteri, better known simply as Kilin, passed away at the age of 90. He was a novelist, poet, essayist and painter.

The Maltese political parties immediately expressed their regret and condolensces at the news, praising Kilin for his outstanding contribution towards Maltese literature.

Kilin was born in Rabat in 1917. Throughout his life he published a number of novels and poems in Maltese with his best known work being Fuq il-Għajn ta' San Bastjan. The book is a collection of childhood memories from the 1920s. Other popular works include the novel L-Għafrit and the collection of essays Tlikki Tlikki ma' Wenzu. He also wrote Wayside chapels of Malta and Gozo in English, which includes a hundred pen sketches by the author himself.

Kilin started writing poems and stories late in life, when he became a grandfather, his first poem is called Jekk qatt ma doqt il-benna taż-Żebbuga.

He also contributed regularly in local newspapers and also in the popular children’s magazine Sagħtar.

On 13 December 2000, he was awarded the Midalja għall-Qadi tar-Repubblika.

In 2002, he was the recipient of the Premio Vicente Azzopardi, which is awarded to Maltese people who distinguish themselves in promoting Maltese-Spanish culture. Kilin was a founding member of the Centro Cultural Hispano-Maltés when it was established in 1984 and remained active in the centre for the rest of his life.