Bill WannanRecensioni

A bit silly, and no doubt offensive - in other words, a great collection of one of those core Aussie characteristics, the ability to brutally put others down.

Bill Wannan was a kind of 20th century Australian raconteur, and published many comic books in this vein. Here you'll find everything from Max Harris referring to Princess Diana "winsomely display[ing] the harmless insipidity of a good pre-kindergarten play supervisor" to Alfred Deakin describing Sir Henry Parkes as someone who "has always in his mind's eyes his own portrair as that of a great man, and constantly adjusted himself to it". There are early 19th century slanders, nostalgic poetry, and of course the many bon mots of our 20th century politicians.

Hardly a necessary volume, but a neat trinket for the bookshelf.

Some of the stories in this book are funny, others entertaining, still others just boring. The Australian personality shines through in all of them. This is definitely worth reading.

Good accounts of some people and events of colonial NSW

A collection of authentic folktales, some ribald and bawdy, from Australia's most distant parts ("back o' Bourke"). Shows the course edge of a rugged, independent people.