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. ( )