Picture of author.
55 Works 304 Members 4 Reviews

About the Author

Image credit: From the front cover of BILL WANNAN'S BIG BOOK OF AUSTRALIAN YARNS

Series

Works by Bill Wannan

Great Aussie Quotes (1987) 9 copies
Australian Horror Stories (1983) 7 copies
Great Aussie Insults (1982) 7 copies
AUSTRALIAN BUSHRANGERS (1970) 7 copies
Chronicles of Boobyalla (1979) 4 copies
Australian pavements : an urban anthology (1964) — Editor — 3 copies
Australian Frontier Tales (1971) 2 copies

Tagged

Common Knowledge

Canonical name
Wannan, Bill
Birthdate
1915
Gender
male
Nationality
Australia

Members

Reviews

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.
… (more)
 
Flagged
therebelprince | Oct 24, 2023 |
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.
 
Flagged
seldombites | Oct 18, 2011 |
Good accounts of some people and events of colonial NSW
 
Flagged
GlenRalph | Oct 5, 2009 |
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.
 
Flagged
davrich | Oct 25, 2008 |

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Sarah Maitland Contributor
Michael Tully Contributor
Lance Loughrey Contributor
Dowell O'Reilly Contributor
Thelma Forshaw Contributor
R. H. Long Contributor
Hugh Mason Contributor
Frank Wilmot Contributor
J. Le Gay Brereton Contributor
Gavin Casey Contributor
Cecil Mann Contributor
Margaret Trist Contributor
Judah Waten Contributor
Louis Stone Contributor
Ian Mudie Contributor
John Shaw Neilson Contributor
C. J. Dennis Contributor
Dal Stivens Contributor
Leonard Mann Contributor
Vance Palmer Contributor
Lennie Lower Contributor
Mary Gilmore Contributor
Leon Gellert Contributor
John K. Ewers Contributor
Nancy Keesing Contributor
Cyril Pearl Contributor
Hal Porter Contributor
Kylie Tennant Contributor
John Morrison Contributor
Alan Marshall Contributor
Stewart Howard Contributor

Statistics

Works
55
Members
304
Popularity
#77,406
Rating
½ 3.5
Reviews
4
ISBNs
64
Languages
3

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