A short story anthology that takes its cue from the construction frenzy Malta is experiencing has won the Malta edition of the European Prize for Literature. Kissirtu Kullimkien (Merlin 2020) by Lara Calleja tackles unbridled construction, which is seen by the author as an attack on the soul. From this cycle of construction and destruction however, friendships can bloom, searching for hope amidst the rubble, calm beyond the chaos, and a quest for change despite a rampant and asphyxiating uglification of rural and urban spaces. The European Union Prize for Literature puts the spotlight on the creativity and diverse wealth of Europe’s contemporary fiction literature. The prize is financed by the Creative Europe programme of the European Commission, which aims to promote cross-border mobility for those working in the cultural sector; encourage the transnational circulation of cultural and artistic output; and foster intercultural dialogue. The initiative is coordinated by the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF), the European Writers' Council (EWC) and the Federation of European Publishers (FEP). The competition is open to the 41 countries currently involved...