In addition to Florence Nightingale's work and ideas, this book illustrates the historical significance of Malta's location in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, the country's at-the-time highly effective healthcare system, the bravery of our ancestors' doctors and the work they did despite their preexisting limitations, and more.
Book lovers, get ready! We are thrilled to present an exclusive interview with Maryann Zahra, pen name Maryann Ring Spencer, the author of the best-selling Villa Sans Souci. If you've ever wondered about the inspiration behind the story or the secrets to Maryann's writing success, this interview is a must-read.
'HRH Field Marshal the Duke of Cambridge inspected the force on the Floriana Parade in Malta on 17th June 1878 before heading to Cyprus'
From the novel 'Villa Sans Souci'
The Maltese Islands' location in the midst of the Mediterranean Sea served as a crucial base during conflicts.
The historical narrative begins in the picturesque fishing village of Marsascirocco (Marsaxlokk), where the mansion Villa Sans Souci is located. The fishing village of Marsaxlokk and its distinctive luzzus are shown in this painting by my friend and fellow artist Anthony Patrick Vella, which is also featured on the back of the book cover. With this charming fishing village, I hoped to evoke a little bit of Maltese tradition on the book's cover.
I was given the opportunity to visit Villa Sans Souci in 1980. I managed to cram myself inside the abandoned villa despite the fact that the main door was ajar and blocked with debris. This mansion never left me after that. I explored every room, every floor and up to the roof of the building. The Prologue of the book has every detail I observed, so we finally know what this villa's inside looked like, albeit with some embellishment from my imagination.
Find out in my book Villa Sans Souci what happened inside its four walls during its heyday! You'll be enthralled by it for sure!
