The last book in Max Braithwaite's biographical trilogy takes place in a small rural town in Saskatchewan. Amusing episodes take us from when he moves to this town as vice-principal of a four-room school house until he decides between becoming a principal or a writer full-time. This is the best of the three books, verified by winning the Stephen Leacock Award. Decidedly non-fiction in its telling of the things they got up to in Depression-era Saskatchewan. Both interesting and funny. ( )

This was winner of Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour in 1972. In it Braithwaite describes how he comes to Wannego, Saskatchewan in the fall of 1935 to take on the position of vice-principal at the local school. What follows is a collection of incidents involving the many characters who inhabit the town. Many of the stories are funny but there also some involving child abuse and even one case that brings incest into the mix.

The town and indeed the province are all being beaten down by the Depression and the drought. No one has money but the residents come up with ways to make life livable by organizing dramatic performances and parties. Frequently the teacher asked to lead the committee.

On a personal level, Braithwaite marries at the beginning of the book and we are told of the struggle of a young couple trying to find affordable accommodation on a meager teacher's salary during the Depression in the Dust Bowl.

This volume is the final installment in an autobiographical trilogy which also includes the titles, Never Sleep Three in a Bed and Why Shoot the Teacher. ( )