the first epic poem in maltese, "il-ġifen tork" "(the turkish caravel)", by giovanni antonio vassallo, was published in 1842, followed by "ħrejjef bil-malti" "(legends in maltese)" and "ħrejjef u ċajt bil-malti" "(legends and jokes in maltese)" in 1861 and 1863 respectively. the same author published the first history book in the maltese language entitled "storja ta’ malta miktuba għall-poplu" "(the people's history of malta)" in 1862.