publications Montebello studied theology (1985–89) and philosophy (1983-85) in Malta. He specialised in philosophy in Rome (1989–93) and Madrid (1994-95), acquiring degrees in Plato and Aristotle, and studied criminal justice with Leicester University (2003–04). He began lecturing in ancient and medieval philosophy at the University of Malta and other higher academic institutions in 1991. In 1993 Montebello began researching the philosophical tradition of the Maltese people, a relatively new area of systematic study, continuing in his investigations of prime sources both locally and abroad for more than twenty-five years. He published his findings in such books as Stedina għall-Filosofija Maltija (An Invitation to Maltese Philosophy, 1995), Il-Ktieb tal-Filosofija f’Malta (The Book of Philosophy in Malta, 2 volumes, 2001), 20th Century Philosophy in Malta (2009) and Malta’s Philosophy & Philosophers (2011). Monographs in this line included Daniel Callus: Historian & Philosopher (1994) and Angelo Pirotta: A Maltese philosopher of the first water (2006). Other focused critiques include the study of the 15th-century Maltese poet and philosopher Peter Caxaro, publishing books such as Pietru Caxaru u l-Kantilena tieghu (Peter Caxaro and his Cantilena, 1992; second edition, 2015) and Bejn ix-Xieraq u l-Għelt: L-istruttura kjażtika tal-Kantilena (Between Rectitude and Incongruity: The chiastic structure of the Cantilena, 2016). In his studies Montebello also thoroughly explored the life and personality of Malta's early-20th-century social reformer Manuel Dimech. His related publications include Dimech (2004; second edition in two volumes, 2013, 2018), Jien, Manwel Dimech (I, Manuel Dimech, 2006; second edition, 2017), Manwel Dimech: Fi kliemi (Manuel Dimech: In my own words, 2010), Manwel Dimech: Ivan u Praskovja u Kitbiet Oħra (Manuel Dimech: Ivan and Praskovia and other writings, 2011), Aphorisms: Wisdom of a philosopher in exile (with Francis Galea, 2012), Manwel Dimech: Ilbieraħ–Illum–għada (Manuel Dimech: Yesterday–today–tomorrow, 2013) and The Amazing Story of Manuel Dimech (2014). Montebello's philosophical publications mostly explore the individual's relation to institutions. They include Il-Verità Teħlisna (The Truth Shall Set You Free, 1993), De Missione Christianorum (The Mission of the Christian, 1994), Il-Bejjiegħ ta’ l-Inċens u ċ-Ċnieser (The Incense and Incensory Vendor, 1994), Taqtigħ f’Salib it-Toroq (Struggle at the Crossroads, 1995), A Philosophy of Madness (1998), Il-Fidwa tal-Anarkiżmu (The Redemption of Anarchism, 2010; eBook, 2014), Four Havens of Intimacy (2012) and Il-Faqar tal-Paternaliżmu (The Poverty of Paternalism, 2017). In 2021 Montebello published the first fully-researched biography of Malta’s 20th-century four-time maverick prime minister Dom Mintoff, The Tail That Wagged The Dog: The life